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November 25, 2015
RPA Inc. T55 University Ave. Suite 501 I Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 2H7 I + 1 (416) 947 0907 www.rpacan.com
DENISON MINES CORP.
TECHNICAL REPORT ON A MINERALRESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR THEWHEELER RIVER PROPERTY,EASTERN ATHABASCA BASIN,NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
NI 43-101 Report
Qualified Persons:William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng.Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.
Report Control Form Document Title Technical Report on a Mineral Resource Estimate for the
Wheeler River Property, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Client Name & Address
Denison Mines Corp. 1100 - 40 University Avenue Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 1T1
Document Reference
Project #2534
Status & Issue No.
FINAL Version
Issue Date November 25, 2015 Lead Author William E. Roscoe
Mark B. Mathisen
(Signed) (Signed)
Peer Reviewer David A. Ross
(Signed)
Project Manager Approval William E. Roscoe
(Signed)
Project Director Approval Deborah A. McCombe
(Signed)
Report Distribution Name No. of Copies Client RPA Filing 1 (project box)
Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.
55 University Avenue, Suite 501 Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Canada Tel: +1 416 947 0907
Fax: +1 416 947 0395 [email protected]
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Page i Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
1 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 1-1 Technical Summary ....................................................................................................... 1-4
2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2-1
3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS ................................................................................. 3-1
4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION ................................................................ 4-1
5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................... 5-1
6 HISTORY ........................................................................................................................ 6-1 Prior ownership .............................................................................................................. 6-1 Exploration and Development History ............................................................................ 6-1 Previous Mineral Resource Estimates ........................................................................... 6-6 Past Production ............................................................................................................. 6-7
7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION .......................................................... 7-1 Regional Geology .......................................................................................................... 7-1 Local and Property Geology........................................................................................... 7-5 Alteration ..................................................................................................................... 7-16 Structural Geology ....................................................................................................... 7-17 Mineralization .............................................................................................................. 7-19
8 DEPOSIT TYPES ............................................................................................................ 8-1
9 EXPLORATION ............................................................................................................... 9-1 Ground Geophysical Surveys ........................................................................................ 9-1 Airborne Surveys ........................................................................................................... 9-3
10 DRILLING .................................................................................................................... 10-1 Phoenix Deposit Exploration Drilling ............................................................................ 10-2 Gryphon Deposit Exploration Drilling ........................................................................... 10-7 Drill Hole Surveying ................................................................................................... 10-10 Radiometric Logging of Drill Holes ............................................................................. 10-10 Sampling Method and Approach ................................................................................ 10-13 Core Recovery and Use of Probe Data ...................................................................... 10-15
11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY ............................................ 11-1 Geochemical Sample Preparation Procedures............................................................. 11-1 Analytical Methods ....................................................................................................... 11-3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control ........................................................................ 11-7
12 DATA VERIFICATION ................................................................................................. 12-1 Site Visit and Core Review........................................................................................... 12-1 Database Validation ..................................................................................................... 12-1
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Page ii Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Independent Verification of Assay Table ...................................................................... 12-2 Disequilibrium .............................................................................................................. 12-2
13 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING ..................................... 13-1
14 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE ............................................................................. 14-1 Drill Hole Database ...................................................................................................... 14-2 Geological Interpretation and 3D Solids ....................................................................... 14-7 Bulk Density ............................................................................................................... 14-18 Statistics .................................................................................................................... 14-22 Variography – Continuity Analysis.............................................................................. 14-29 Interpolation Parameters ............................................................................................ 14-30 Block Model Validation ............................................................................................... 14-38 Cut-off Grade ............................................................................................................. 14-41 Classification ............................................................................................................. 14-44 Mineral Resource Estimate ........................................................................................ 14-47
15 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE ................................................................................ 15-1
16 MINING METHODS ..................................................................................................... 16-1
17 RECOVERY METHODS .............................................................................................. 17-1
18 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................. 18-1
19 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS ...................................................................... 19-1
20 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT ......................................................................................................................................... 20-1
21 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS .......................................................................... 21-1
22 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS............................................................................................... 22-1
23 ADJACENT PROPERTIES .......................................................................................... 23-1
24 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION ........................................................ 24-1
25 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................................. 25-1
26 RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................ 26-1
27 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 27-1
28 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE .................................................................................. 28-1
29 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON .................................................................... 29-1
LIST OF TABLES PAGE
Table 1-1 Mineral Resource Estimate as of September 25, 2015 (100% Basis) ............... 1-2 Table 4-1 Land Tenure Details ......................................................................................... 4-2 Table 6-1 Exploration and Development History ............................................................... 6-6 Table 6-2 SRK Mineral Resource Estimate as of November 17, 2010 .............................. 6-6 Table 6-3 RPA Mineral Resource Estimate as of December 31, 2012 (100% Basis) ........ 6-7
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Page iii Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Table 10-1 Wheeler River Property Drilling Statistics ...................................................... 10-1 Table 10-2 Phoenix Drilling Statistics .............................................................................. 10-4 Table 10-3 Gryphon Drilling Statistics ............................................................................. 10-9 Table 10-4 Gryphon Deposit Mineral Intersections ....................................................... 10-10 Table 11-1 Quality Control Sample Allocations ............................................................. 11-16 Table 14-1 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Wheeler River Project as of September 25, 2015 (100% Basis) ........................................................................................................... 14-1 Table 14-2 Vulcan Database Records ............................................................................ 14-2 Table 14-3 Summary of Gryphon Wireframe Models .................................................... 14-14 Table 14-4 Descriptive Statistics of Gryphon Uranium Assay by Domain ...................... 14-22 Table 14-5 Statistics of Gryphon Capped Assays by Domain ....................................... 14-23 Table 14-6 Basic Statistics of Grade and GxD Composites for Phoenix Deposit Zones A and B HG and LG Domains ............................................................................................ 14-26 Table 14-7 Descriptive Statistics of Gryphon Deposit Composite Uranium Assay by Domain ....................................................................................................................................... 14-29 Table 14-8 Phoenix and Gryphon Block Model Parameters and Variables ................... 14-30 Table 14-9 Phoenix Deposit Block Model Interpolation Parameters .............................. 14-33 Table 14-10 Gryphon Block Model Estimation Parameters ........................................... 14-37 Table 14-11 Volume Comparison for Wireframe and Blocks by Domain ....................... 14-38 Table 14-12 Statistics of Block Grades Compared to Composite Grades by Domain - Phoenix .......................................................................................................................... 14-39 Table 14-13 Statistics of Block Grades Compared to Composite Grades by Domain - Gryphon.......................................................................................................................... 14-40 Table 14-14 Phoenix Deposit Indicated Mineral Resource Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade . 14-41 Table 14-15 Gryphon Deposit Cut-off Grade Calculation .............................................. 14-43 Table 14-16 Gryphon Deposit Inferred Mineral Resource Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade .. 14-43 Table 14-17 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Wheeler River Project as of September 25, 2015 ............................................................................................................................... 14-48
LIST OF FIGURES PAGE
Figure 4-1 Wheeler River Project Location Map ................................................................ 4-4 Figure 4-2 Wheeler River Property Map ............................................................................ 4-5 Figure 7-1 Regional Geology and Uranium Deposits ........................................................ 7-3 Figure 7-2 Simplified Geological Map of Athabasca Basin ................................................ 7-4 Figure 7-3 Schematic Section of the Athabasca and Basement Rock Types .................... 7-8 Figure 7-4 Wheeler River Property Basement Geology .................................................. 7-10 Figure 7-5 Schematic of the Quartzite Ridge .................................................................. 7-13 Figure 7-6 WS Reverse Fault and the Phoenix Deposit .................................................. 7-14 Figure 7-7 Gryphon Basement Geology .......................................................................... 7-15 Figure 8-1 Schematic of Unconformity Type Uranium Deposit .......................................... 8-3 Figure 8-2 Illustration of Various Models for Unconformity Type Deposits of the Athabasca Basin .................................................................................................................................. 8-4 Figure 10-1 Phoenix Deposit Drill Hole Location Map ..................................................... 10-6 Figure 10-2 Gryphon Deposit 2013 Drill Hole Location Map ........................................... 10-8 Figure 10-3 Calibration Curve for Geiger-Mueller SN 3818 Probe ................................ 10-13 Figure 11-1 USTD1 Analyses ......................................................................................... 11-8 Figure 11-2 USTD2 Analyses ......................................................................................... 11-9
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Page iv Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Figure 11-3 USTD3 Analyses ......................................................................................... 11-9 Figure 11-4 USTD4 Analyses ....................................................................................... 11-10 Figure 11-5 USTD5 Analyses ....................................................................................... 11-10 Figure 11-6 USTD6 Analyses ....................................................................................... 11-11 Figure 11-7 Blank Sample Analyses Results ................................................................ 11-12 Figure 11-8 Field Duplicate Analyses ........................................................................... 11-13 Figure 11-9 BLA4 Analyses .......................................................................................... 11-15 Figure 11-10 U3O8 DNC Versus ICP-OES Assay Values .............................................. 11-17 Figure 12-1 WR-318 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-4 Figure 12-2 WR-334 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-5 Figure 12-3 WR-273 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-5 Figure 12-4 WR-435 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-6 Figure 12-5 WR-548 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-6 Figure 12-6 WR-525 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-7 Figure 12-7 WR-401 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-7 Figure 12-8 WR-306 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-8 Figure 12-9 WR-539 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ........................................... 12-8 Figure 12-10 WR-560 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ......................................... 12-9 Figure 12-11 WR-573D1 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values .................................... 12-9 Figure 12-12 WR-582 Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values ....................................... 12-10 Figure 12-13 WR-584B Radiometric vs. Assay % U3O8 Values .................................... 12-10 Figure 14-1 Phoenix Deposit Zones A and B Drill Hole Locations ................................... 14-4 Figure 14-2 Phoenix Deposit Zone A Basement Drill Hole Locations .............................. 14-5 Figure 14-3 Gryphon Deposit Drill Hole Locations .......................................................... 14-6 Figure 14-4 Phoenix Deposit Zone A Typical Cross Section Including WR-435 with HG and LG Domains ..................................................................................................................... 14-9 Figure 14-5 Phoenix Deposit Zone A Typical Cross Section Including WR-525 with HG and LG Domains ................................................................................................................... 14-10 Figure 14-6 Phoenix Deposit Zone A Typical Cross Section Including WR-401 with HG and LG Domains ................................................................................................................... 14-11 Figure 14-7 Phoenix Deposit Zone B Typical Cross Section Including WR-294 with HG and LG Domains ................................................................................................................... 14-12 Figure 14-8 Phoenix Deposit Zone A-Basement Longitudinal Section .......................... 14-13 Figure 14-9 Gryphon Deposit Geologic Cross Section Schematic of Mineralization ...... 14-16 Figure 14-10 Gryphon Deposit Wireframes at Drill INDEX LINE 5000 Cross Section (Looking NE) .................................................................................................................. 14-17 Figure 14-11 Logarithmic Plot of Dry Bulk Density Versus Uranium Grade - Phoenix Deposit ....................................................................................................................................... 14-19 Figure 14-12 Dry Bulk Density Wax Versus Dry/Wet Methods - Phoenix Deposit ......... 14-20 Figure 14-13 Logarithmic Plot of Dry Bulk Density Versus Uranium Grade - Gryphon Deposit ........................................................................................................................... 14-21 Figure 14-14 Zone A1 Log Normal Probability and Histogram Plot – Gryphon Deposit . 14-24 Figure 14-15 Grade Composite Histograms for Phoenix Deposit Zones A and B HG and LG Domains ......................................................................................................................... 14-27 Figure 14-16 Grade vs. Density Plots for Phoenix Deposit Zones A and B HG and LG Domains ......................................................................................................................... 14-28 Figure 14-17 Phoenix Deposit Zone A 3D Block Model ................................................ 14-34 Figure 14-18 Phoenix Deposit Zone A 3D HG Domain Block Model ............................. 14-35 Figure 14-19 Gryphon Deposit Block Model Domains A1 and C1 (Looking NORTH) .... 14-36 Figure 14-20 Phoenix Indicated Mineral Resource Tonnes and Grade at Various Cut-off Grades ........................................................................................................................... 14-42
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Page v Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Figure 14-21 Gryphon Inferred Mineral Resource Tonnes and Grade at Various Cut-off Grades ........................................................................................................................... 14-44 Figure 14-22 Phoenix Deposit Zone B Block Model Showing Phoenix Deposit Inferred and Indicated Resources ....................................................................................................... 14-46
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Page 1-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
1 SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) was retained by Denison Mines Corp. (Denison) on
behalf of the Wheeler River Joint Venture to prepare an independent Technical Report on the
Phoenix and Gryphon deposits, located within the Wheeler River Property (the Property) in
northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Mineral Resources for the Phoenix deposit were
updated in a NI 43-101 Technical Report dated June 17, 2014 (the 2014 Phoenix Report)
and authored by William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng., of RPA. The Phoenix Mineral Resources
have not changed since the 2014 Phoenix Report and are included in this report.
The purpose of this Technical Report is to support the disclosure of the initial Mineral
Resource estimate for the Gryphon deposit and update the total Mineral Resource estimate
for the Property. This Technical Report conforms to NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects.
Denison owns 60% and is the operator of the Wheeler River Joint Venture. Cameco
Corporation (Cameco) owns 30% and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited (JCU)
owns the remaining 10%. The Property consists of 19 contiguous claims in northern
Saskatchewan. Denison’s additional assets include a 22.5% interest in the McClean Lake
mill in Saskatchewan, one of three licensed uranium mills in Canada.
The updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Wheeler River Property is summarized in
Table 1-1.
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Page 1-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 1-1 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 (100% BASIS)
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Deposit Category Tonnes Grade (% U3O8)
Contained Metal (million lb U3O8)
Phoenix Indicated 166,400 19.14 70.2 Phoenix Inferred 8,600 5.80 1.1 Gryphon Inferred 834,000 2.31 43.0 Total Inferred 842,600 2.37 44.1
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. 2. Mineral Resources for Phoenix are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8, which is based on
internal Denison studies and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 3. Mineral Resources for Gryphon are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8, which is based on RPA
assumptions and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 4. High grade composites are subjected to a high grade search restriction without capping at Phoenix. 5. High grade mineralization was capped at 30% with no search restrictions at Gryphon. 6. Bulk density is derived from grade using a formula based on 196 measurements at Phoenix and 65
measurements at Gryphon. 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
CONCLUSIONS Drilling at the Property from 2008 to 2014 discovered and delineated the Phoenix uranium
deposit at the intersection of the Athabasca sandstone basal unconformity with a regional
fault zone, the WS fault, and graphitic pelite basement rocks. Drilling from 2014 to 2015
discovered the basement hosted Gryphon uranium deposit located approximately three
kilometres northwest of the Phoenix deposit.
The Phoenix deposit consists of two separate lenses known as zone A and zone B located at
the Athabasca unconformity approximately 400 m below surface within a one kilometre long,
northeast trending mineralized corridor. Both lenses contain a higher grade core within a
lower grade mineralized envelope and extend southeastward from the WS fault along the
unconformity. Some mineralization also occurs on the northwest side of the WS fault but
commonly at a slightly lower elevation. In addition to zones A and B, a new domain of
uranium mineralization below and adjacent to zone A has been identified in basement rocks
(zone A basement) and included in this report.
Mineral Resources for Phoenix, based on 196 diamond drill holes totalling 89,835 m, were
estimated by RPA. Indicated Resources total 166,400 t at 19.13% U3O8 containing 70.2
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Page 1-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
million lb U3O8. Inferred Resources total 8,600 t at 5.80% U3O8 containing 1.1 million lb
U3O8.
Mineralization at the Gryphon Deposit, located three kilometres northwest of Phoenix, occurs
in basement rocks approximately 200 m beneath the Athabasca sandstone unconformity. In
this area, the unconformity drops to the northwest in a series of reverse fault offsets.
Cumulative offset is approximately 60 m of vertical displacement over 250 m across strike.
Basement rocks are Wollaston Group gneisses that dip moderately to the southeast and
consist of an upper graphitic pelite unit overlying a quartzite/pegmatite assemblage which
overlies a lower graphitic pelite unit followed by a basal pegmatite. To date, the
mineralization is hosted in fault zones at the base of the upper graphitic pelite and within the
lower graphitic pelite. The faults are assumed to dip moderately to the southeast,
conformable with the bedding and foliation in the basement rocks.
Mineral Resources for Gryphon, based on 55 diamond drill holes totalling 40,041 m, were
estimated by RPA. Inferred Resources total 834,000 t at 2.31% U3O8 containing 43.0 million
lbs U3O8. In RPA’s opinion, additional infill drilling on 25 m profile spacing or wedging off of
current drill holes would be needed to bring the Inferred Mineral Resource into Indicated
status.
In RPA’s opinion, a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) could be carried out on the
Phoenix and Gryphon deposits combined.
RECOMMENDATIONS In the third quarter of 2015, the Wheeler River Joint Venture commenced a PEA. At the end
of the PEA, a review of the project will be completed with recommendations for next steps.
Should the project proceed into pre-feasibility, initial work will focus on environmental
baseline studies, engineering field programs, and engineering studies.
The Wheeler River Joint Venture plans to continue exploration on the Property in 2016, with
emphasis expected to be on the areas to the northeast and southwest of Gryphon, as well as
other targets on the Property. In addition, an infill drilling program may be undertaken on the
Gryphon deposit to bring the Inferred Mineral Resource into Indicated status if warranted by
positive PEA results.
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Page 1-4 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
RPA has reviewed the preliminary plans for 2016 and concurs with the program planned for
the Wheeler River Joint Venture in 2016. Denison’s 2016 budget for the Wheeler River Joint
Venture has not been disclosed yet, but RPA expects exploration expenditures to be in the
order of C$10 million. Contingent on results of this program and the PEA, a second phase
will consist of infill drilling at Gryphon, environmental baseline studies, engineering field
programs, and engineering studies as part of the initiation of a pre-feasibility study. RPA
expects that the cost of the second phase program will be in the order of C$3 million.
If further drilling is completed at Gryphon, RPA recommends that Denison continue to collect
additional bulk density data to increase the confidence of estimated densities of the entire
grade range.
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION The Property, comprising the Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, is located in the
eastern Athabasca Basin, approximately 600 km north of Saskatoon, 260 km north of La
Ronge, and 110 km southwest of Points North Landing, in northern Saskatchewan. The
centre of the Property is located approximately 35 km north-northeast of the Key Lake mill
and 35 km southwest of the McArthur River mine, which are operated by Cameco. The
Gryphon deposit is located three kilometres northwest of the Phoenix deposit.
LAND TENURE The Property comprises 19 contiguous claims held as a Joint Venture among Denison
(60%), Cameco (30%), and JCU (10%) with no back-in rights or royalties that need to be
paid. RPA understands that Denison has all the required permits to conduct the proposed
work on the Property. RPA is not aware of any other significant factors or risks that may
affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform work on the Property.
ACCESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE Access to the Property is by road, helicopter, or fixed wing aircraft from Saskatoon. Vehicle
access to the Property is by Highway 914, which terminates at the Key Lake mill. The ore
haul road between the Key Lake and McArthur River operations traverses the eastern part of
the Property. An older access road, the Fox Lake Road, between Key Lake and McArthur
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Page 1-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
River provides access to most of the northwestern side of the Property. Gravel and sand
roads and drill trails provide access by either four-wheel-drive or all-terrain-vehicle to the rest
of the Property.
La Ronge is the nearest commercial/urban centre where most exploration supplies and
services can be obtained. Two airlines offer daily, scheduled flight services between
Saskatoon and La Ronge.
Field operations are currently conducted from Denison’s Wheeler River camp, three
kilometres southwest of the Phoenix deposit and four kilometers south of the Gryphon
deposit. The camp, which is operated by Denison, provides accommodation for up to forty
exploration personnel. Fuel and miscellaneous supplies are stored in existing warehouse
and tank facilities at the camp. The site generates its own power. Abundant water is
available from the numerous lakes and rivers in the area.
HISTORY The Property was staked on July 6, 1977, due to its proximity to the Key Lake uranium
discoveries, and was vended into an agreement on December 28, 1978 among AGIP
Canada Ltd. (AGIP), E&B Explorations Ltd. (E&B), and Saskatchewan Mining Development
Corporation (SMDC), with each holding a one-third interest. On July 31, 1984, all parties
divested a 13.3% interest and allowed Denison Mines Limited, a predecessor company to
Denison, to earn a 40% interest. On December 1, 1986, E&B allowed PNC Exploration
(Canada) Co. Ltd. (PNC) to earn a 10% interest from one-half of its 20% interest. In the
early 1990s, AGIP sold its 20% interest to Cameco, which was a successor to SMDC. In
1996, Imperial Metals Corporation, a successor to E&B, sold an 8% interest to Cameco and
a 2% interest to PNC. Participating interests in 2004 were Cameco (48%), JCU (a successor
to PNC, 12%), and Denison (40%).
In late 2004, Denison entered into an agreement to earn a further 20% interest by expending
$7 million within six years. When the earn-in obligations were completed, the participating
interests were Denison 60%, Cameco 30%, and JCU 10%. Since November 2004, Denison
has been the operator of the Wheeler River Joint Venture.
Except for the years 1990 to 1995, exploration activities comprising airborne and ground
geophysical surveys, geochemical surveys, prospecting and diamond drilling have been
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Page 1-6 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
carried out on the Property continuously from 1978 to the present. The Phoenix deposit was
discovered by drilling in 2008 and the Gryphon deposit, by drilling in 2014.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION The Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits are located near the southeastern margin of the
Athabasca Basin in the southwest part of the Churchill Structural Province of the Canadian
Shield. The Athabasca Basin is a broad, closed and elliptically shaped cratonic basin with
dimensions of 425 km (east-west) by 225 km (north-south). The bedrock geology of the area
consists of Archean and Paleoproterozoic gneisses unconformably overlain by up to 1,500 m
of flat-lying, unmetamorphosed sandstones and conglomerates of the mid-Proterozoic
Athabasca Group. The Property is located near the transition zone between two prominent
litho-structural domains within the Precambrian basement; the Mudjatik Domain to the west
and the Wollaston Domain to the east.
The mineralization in the Phoenix deposit occurs at depths of 390 m to 420 m at the
Athabasca sandstone unconformity with the underlying lower Proterozoic Wollaston Group
metasedimentary rocks. The Phoenix deposit is interpreted to be structurally controlled by
the northeast-southwest trending (55º azimuth) WS shear fault which dips 55º to the
southeast. Mineralization and alteration have been traced over a strike length of
approximately one kilometre. Since discovery hole WR-249 was drilled in 2008, 253 drill
holes have reached the target depth, delineating two distinct zones (A and B) of high-grade
mineralization and the smaller zone A basement.
Mineralization at the Gryphon deposit is hosted by highly deformed crystalline basement
rocks approximately 200 m beneath the Athabasca sandstone unconformity. In this area, the
unconformity drops approximately 60 m to the northwest in a series of reverse fault offsets.
The Gryphon mineralization is hosted in fault zones within graphitic pelite units that dip
moderately to the southeast.
The Phoenix and Gryphon deposits are Athabasca Basin unconformity associated uranium
deposits. Uranium mineralization is in the form of the oxide uraninite/pitchblende (UO2).
Grades of all accompanying metals are low, particularly in comparison with several
sandstone-hosted deposits, which can have very high values for nickel, cobalt, and arsenic.
Alteration at Phoenix and Gryphon is typical of unconformity associated deposits in the
Athabasca Basin.
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Page 1-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
EXPLORATION Following the discovery of the Phoenix deposit in 2008, Denison, as operator of the Wheeler
River Joint Venture, completed additional geophysical surveys and drilling programs every
year from 2009 to 2015.
Geophysical surveys included 67.6 line-km of DC Resistivity/Induced Polarization (DC/IP) in
2009, 76.2 km of ground electromagnetic (EM) surveying in 2010, and large amounts of
additional DC/IP surveying in each of 2011 (120.6 line-km), 2012 (48.2 line-km), 2013 (128.5
line-km), 2014 (62 line-km), and 2015 (149.5 line-km). In 2013, a 990 line-km helicopter
borne versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM)-magnetic-radiometric survey was
conducted over the Property.
DRILLING Diamond drilling is the principal method of exploration and delineation of uranium
mineralization after initial geophysical surveys on the Property. Drilling can generally be
conducted year round.
Diamond drilling during the period 2009 to 2012 was primarily focussed on definition drilling
at the Phoenix deposit, although numerous holes were also completed on other targets on
the Property. Diamond drilling during the period 2013 to 2014 was primarily focussed on
exploration for additional lenses or deposits, but also included a component of infill
delineation drilling on zone A to move the Inferred Mineral Resource into the Indicated
category, and to extend the higher grade portions of the Phoenix deposit. During the latter
part of 2014 and 2015, drilling was primarily focussed on exploration of the Gryphon deposit.
Since 1979, a total of 641 diamond drill holes and 84 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes
totalling 302,127 m have been completed within the Property, of which 263 drill holes
totalling 123,749 m of diamond drilling have delineated the Phoenix trend and 69 holes
totalling 44,083 m have delineated the Gryphon deposit. Of the 263 drill holes at Phoenix,
196 (141 at zone A, 55 at zone B) drill holes totalling 89,835 m (64,491 m at zone A, 25,344
m at zone B) have tested zones A and B. Of the 69 drill holes at Gryphon, 55 drill holes
totalling 40,041 m have delineated the deposit.
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Page 1-8 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
All drill holes on the Property were logged with a radiometric probe to measure the natural
gamma radiation, from which an indirect estimate of uranium content can be made. The
gamma probes were calibrated and radiometric estimates of eU3O8 % were used in the drill
hole database where core recovery was less than 80%, which involves approximately 23% of
the drill holes used for resource estimation at Phoenix. The resource estimation at Gryphon
is based on 100% assay data.
Well established drilling industry practices were used in all of the drilling programs.
SAMPLING, ANALYSES, AND DATA VERIFICATION Drill core from the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits was photographed, logged, marked for
sampling, split, bagged, and sealed for shipment by Denison personnel at their field logging
facility. All samples for assay or geochemical analysis were transported by Denison
personnel to the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Uranium analyses were carried out at SRC which is accredited
by the Standards Council of Canada as an ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory for Mineral Analysis
Testing and is also accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for the analysis of U3O8.
To compare results of two different analytical methods, at two separate laboratories, Denison
sent one in every 25 samples to the SRC’s Delayed Neutron Counting (DNC) laboratory, a
separate facility located at SRC Analytical Laboratories in Saskatoon.
Analytical standards were used to monitor analytical precision and accuracy, and field
standards were used as an independent monitor of laboratory performance. Six uranium
assay standards have been prepared for use in monitoring the accuracy and precision of
uranium assays received from the laboratory. Denison employed a lithological blank
composed of quartzite to monitor the potential for contamination during sampling,
processing, and analysis. Core duplicates were obtained by collecting a second sample of
the same material, through splitting the original sample, or other similar technique, and were
submitted as an independent sample. Duplicates were typically collected at a minimum rate
of one per 20 samples in order to obtain a collection rate of 5%. In RPA’s opinion, the
sample preparation and analytical methods are standard in the industry. Results of the
quality assurance and data verification efforts demonstrate that the data are of sufficient
quality for Mineral Resource estimates.
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Page 1-9 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
RPA reviewed and verified the resource database used to estimate the Mineral Resources
for both the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits. The verification included a review of the quality
assurance and quality control (QA/QC) methods and results, verifying assay certificates
against the database assay table, standard database validation tests, and two site visits.
Denison has developed and documented several QA/QC procedures and protocols for all
exploration projects operated by Denison. RPA reviewed Denison’s procedures and
protocols and considers them to be reasonable and acceptable.
MINERAL RESOURCES RPA has estimated Mineral Resources for the Property based on results of several surface
diamond drilling campaigns from 2008 to 2015. The Denison drill hole database and Mineral
Resource estimate have been audited by RPA. Table 1-1 summarizes the Phoenix and
Gryphon Mineral Resource estimates, of which Denison’s share is 60%. The effective date
of the Mineral Resource estimate is September 25, 2015.
Denison has interpreted the geology, structure, and mineralization at Phoenix using data
from 196 diamond drill holes and developed three dimensional (3D) wireframe models which
represent 0.05% U3O8 grade envelopes. For each of zone A and zone B, the wireframes
contain a higher grade (HG) domain within an envelope of lower grade (LG) material,
resulting in four main domains. A fifth domain has been added for the current estimate
consisting of a small zone of structurally controlled basement mineralization at the north end
of zone A.
Denison has interpreted the geology, structure, and mineralization at Gryphon using data
from 55 diamond drill holes and developed 3D wireframe models which represent 0.05%
U3O8 grade envelopes and minimum thickness of two metres. The wireframes were
subsequently clipped to include only minimum intersections greater than 0.2% U3O8.
Mineralized wireframes were developed for a total of eight stacked lenses, of which two
accounted for most of the Mineral Resources.
Based on 196 dry bulk density determinations for Phoenix and 65 for Gryphon, Denison
developed a formula relating bulk density to grade which was used to assign a density value
to each assay. Bulk density values were used to weight grades during the resource
estimation process and to convert volume to tonnage.
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Page 1-10 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Capping of high grade assays at the Phoenix deposit was considered to be unnecessary
because of the use of high grade domains and the lack of apparent high grade outliers. The
influence of high grade values, however, was restricted during the block estimation process.
High grade assays at the Gryphon deposit were capped at 30% prior to compositing. Assays
at both Phoenix and Gryphon were composited to one metre lengths.
Composited uranium grade times density (GxD) values and density (D) values were
interpolated into each block model domain using an inverse distance squared (ID2) algorithm
for each mineralized domain. Domain boundaries were treated as hard boundaries, so that
composites from any given domain could not influence block grades in other domains. Block
grade was derived from the interpolated GxD value divided by the interpolated D value for
each block. Block tonnage was based on volume times the interpolated D value.
The Mineral Resources for the Phoenix deposit are classified as Indicated and Inferred
based on drill hole spacing and apparent continuity of mineralization. Most of the Mineral
Resource at Phoenix is classified as Indicated, with the balance classified as Inferred. All of
the Mineral Resource at Gryphon is classified as Inferred.
The Phoenix and Gryphon deposit block models were validated by comparison of domain
wireframe volumes with block volumes, visual comparison of composite grades with block
grades, comparison of block grades with composite grades used to interpolate grades, and
comparison with estimation by a different method.
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Page 2-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
2 INTRODUCTION Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) was retained by Denison Mines Corp. (Denison) on
behalf of the Wheeler River Joint Venture to prepare an independent Technical Report on the
Phoenix and Gryphon deposits, located within the Wheeler River Property (the Property) in
northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Mineral Resources for the Phoenix deposit were
updated in a NI 43-101 Technical Report dated June 17, 2014 (the 2014 Phoenix Report)
and authored by William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng., of RPA. The Phoenix Mineral Resources
have not changed since the 2014 Phoenix Report and are included in this report.
The purpose of this Technical Report is to support the disclosure of the initial Mineral
Resource estimate for the Gryphon deposit and update the total Mineral Resource estimate
for the Property. This Technical Report conforms to NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects.
Denison is a Toronto-based mining company focused on uranium exploration and
development in Canada, Mongolia, Mali, Namibia, and Zambia. Denison is listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol DML) and on the New York Stock Exchange MKT (symbol
DNN).
Denison owns 60% of the Wheeler River Joint Venture and is the operator, Cameco
Corporation (Cameco) owns 30%, and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited owns
the remaining 10%. The Property comprises 19 contiguous claims in northern
Saskatchewan totalling 11,720 ha.
In addition, Denison has a 22.5% interest in the McClean Lake mill in Saskatchewan, one of
the three licensed conventional uranium mills in Saskatchewan. Denison’s primary
exploration properties are located in the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin, along the
same geological terrain that hosts all of Canada’s currently producing uranium mines, which
account for 16% of global production.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION This report was prepared by William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng., RPA Chairman Emeritus and
Principal Geologist, and Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., RPA Senior Geologist. Both are
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Page 2-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Qualified Persons in accordance with NI 43-101. Dr. Roscoe last visited the Property on
June 16, 2014 and held discussions with technical personnel in RPA’s Toronto office on May
4, 2014 in connection with the 2014 Phoenix Report. For the Gryphon Deposit, a site visit
was carried out by Mr. Mathisen from March 23 to 25, 2015. Mr. Mathisen visited active drill
sites and reviewed logging and sampling methods with Denison personnel. RPA has had
prior involvement with the Property in 2014 and much of the information in this report is
summarized from the 2014 Phoenix Report.
Specific activities completed by RPA include:
• Site visit and validation of data available for the resource estimate.
• Determination of correlation between assays and radiometric logs used for U3O8 grade estimation.
• Compilation of new Gryphon resource models.
• Geological interpretation of mineralized zones.
• Audit of drill hole database and assay certificates.
• Mineral Resource estimation and classification.
• Verification of Mineral Resource estimate.
Discussions were held with following Denison personnel who have contributed to the
geological, geochemical, geophysical, environmental, and resource estimation sections of
this Technical Report:
• Steve Blower, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration
• Lawson Forand, P.Geo., Exploration Manager
• Clark Gamelin, P.Geo., Senior Project Geologist
• Chad Sorba, P.Geo., Senior Project Geologist
• Dale Verran, Pr.Sci.Nat., Technical Director
All geological and sampling data were provided by Denison. Drilling and geological data
were generated from May 2008 to August 2015. All field activities are currently managed by
Denison.
Dr. Roscoe and Mr. Mathisen share responsibility for all sections of this report.
The documentation reviewed, and other sources of information, are listed at the end of this
report in Section 27 References.
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Page 2-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Units of measurement used in this report conform to the Metric system. All currency in this
report is Canadian dollars (C$) unless otherwise noted.
a annum kWh kilowatt-hour A ampere L litre bbl barrels lb pound btu British thermal units L/s litres per second °C degree Celsius m metre C$ Canadian dollars M mega (million); molar cal calorie m2 square metre cfm cubic feet per minute m3 cubic metre cm centimetre µ micron cm2 square centimetre MASL metres above sea level d day µg microgram dia diameter m3/h cubic metres per hour dmt dry metric tonne mi mile dwt dead-weight ton min minute % eU3O8 equivalent grade U3O8 µm micrometre °F degree Fahrenheit mm millimetre ft foot mph miles per hour ft2 square foot MVA megavolt-amperes ft3 cubic foot MW megawatt ft/s foot per second MWh megawatt-hour g gram oz Troy ounce (31.1035g) G giga (billion) oz/st, opt ounce per short ton Gal Imperial gallon ppb part per billion g/L gram per litre ppm part per million Gpm Imperial gallons per minute psia pound per square inch absolute g/t gram per tonne psig pound per square inch gauge gr/ft3 grain per cubic foot RL relative elevation gr/m3 grain per cubic metre s second ha hectare st short ton hp horsepower stpa short ton per year hr hour stpd short ton per day Hz hertz t metric tonne in. inch tpa metric tonne per year in2 square inch tpd metric tonne per day J joule US$ United States dollar k kilo (thousand) USg United States gallon kcal kilocalorie USgpm US gallon per minute kg kilogram V volt km kilometre W watt km2 square kilometre wmt wet metric tonne km/h kilometre per hour wt% weight percent kPa kilopascal yd3 cubic yard kVA kilovolt-amperes yr year kW kilowatt
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Page 3-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS This report has been prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) for Denison Mines
Corp. The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained herein are based on:
• Information available to RPA at the time of preparation of this report, • Assumptions, conditions, and qualifications as set forth in this report, and • Data, reports, and other information supplied by Denison Mines Corp. and other
third party sources.
For the purpose of this report, RPA has relied on ownership information provided by
Denison. RPA has not researched property title or mineral rights for the Wheeler River
Project and expresses no opinion as to the ownership status of the property.
Except for the purposes legislated under provincial securities laws, any use of this report by
any third party is at that party’s sole risk.
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Page 4-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION PROPERTY LOCATION The Wheeler River Property, comprising the Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, is
located in the eastern Athabasca Basin, approximately 600 km north of Saskatoon, 260 km
north of La Ronge, and 110 km southwest of Points North Landing, in northern
Saskatchewan (Figure 4-1). The centre of the Property is located approximately 35 km
northeast of the Key Lake mill and 35 km southwest of the McArthur River mine, which are
operated by Cameco. The Property straddles the boundaries of NTS map sheets 74H-5, 6,
11, and 12. The UTM coordinates of the approximate centre of the Property are 475,000E
and 6,370,000N (NAD83, Zone 13N).
The Gryphon deposit is located approximately three kilometres northwest of Denison’s
Phoenix deposit, also within the Property. The Phoenix deposit was discovered in 2008 and
contains a significant uranium Mineral Resource, which was last updated in the 2014
Phoenix Report. The Phoenix deposit is at the unconformity between the Athabasca Basin
and basement rocks, approximately 400 m below surface, whereas the Gryphon deposit is
located in the basement rocks, approximately 60 m to 350 m below the unconformity surface.
LAND TENURE The Property comprises 19 contiguous claims held as a joint venture among Denison (60%),
Cameco (30%), and JCU (Canada) Exploration Co. Ltd. (10%) with no back-in rights or
royalties that need to be paid. The claims are shown in Figure 4-2 and listed in Table 4-1.
Denison has been the operator of the Property since November 10, 2004.
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Page 4-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 4-1 LAND TENURE DETAILS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Disposition # Area
(ha) Annual
Assessment ($)
Excess Credit ($)
Years Protected
S-97677 322 8,050 152,950 19 S-97678 335 8,375 159,125 19 S-97690 1,087 27,175 516,325 19 S-97894 246 6,150 116,850 19 S-97895 314 7,850 149,150 19 S-97896 356 8,900 169,100 19 S-97897 524 13,100 248,900 19 S-97907 352 8,800 167,200 19 S-97908 1,619 40,475 769,025 19 S-97909 1,036 25,900 492,100 19 S-98339 362 9,050 171,950 19 S-98340 250 6,250 118,750 19 S-98341 802 20,050 380,950 19 S-98342 1,016 25,400 482,600 19 S-98343 362 9,050 171,950 19 S-98347 939 23,475 446,025 19 S-98348 951 23,775 451,725 19 S-98349 540 13,500 256,500 19 S-98350 307 7,675 145,825 19
MINERAL RIGHTS In Canada, natural resources fall under provincial jurisdiction. In the Province of
Saskatchewan, the management of mineral resources and the granting of exploration and
mining rights for mineral substances and their use are regulated by the Crown Minerals Act
and The Mineral Tenure Registry Regulations, 2012, that are administered by the
Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy. Mineral rights are owned by the Crown and are
distinct from surface rights.
In Saskatchewan, a mineral claim does not grant the holder the right to mine minerals. A
Saskatchewan mineral claim in good standing can be converted to a lease upon application.
Leases have a term of 10 years and are renewable. A lease proffers the holder with the
exclusive right to explore for, mine, work, recover, procure, remove, carry away, and dispose
of any Crown minerals within the lease lands which are nonetheless owned by the Province.
Surface facilities and mine workings are therefore located on Provincial lands and the right to
use and occupy lands is acquired under a surface lease from the Province of Saskatchewan.
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Page 4-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
A surface lease carries a maximum term of 33 years, and may be extended as necessary, to
allow the lessee to develop and operate the mine and plant and thereafter to carry out the
reclamation of the lands involved.
ROYALTIES AND OTHER ENCUMBRANCES RPA is not aware of any royalties due, back-in rights, or other encumbrances by virtue of any
underlying agreements.
PERMITTING RPA is not aware of any environmental liabilities associated with the Property.
RPA understands that Denison has all the required permits to conduct the proposed work on
the Property. RPA is not aware of any other significant factors and risks that may affect
access, title, or the right or ability to perform the proposed work program on the Property.
WHEELER RIVERPROPERTY
Provincial Capital
Legend:
Trans-Canada Highway
Other Populated Areas
Major Road
International Boundary
Provincial Boundary
0 50 250
Kilometres
100 150 200
November 2015 Source: Natural Resources Canada.
Wheeler River Property
Location Map
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 4-1
4-4
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S-98343
S-98340
S-98341
S-9
8349
S-98342
S-98347
S-9
8350
S-98348
S-97896
S-97897 S-97907
S-97908
S-97909
S-98339
S-97678
S-97677
S-97894
S-97690
S-97895
465,000 mE 485,000 mE480,000 mE475,000 mE470,000 mE 490,000 mE6,3
75,0
00 m
N6,3
80,0
00 m
N
6,3
65,0
00 m
N
6,3
70,0
00 m
N
6,3
60,0
00 m
N
6,3
75,0
00 m
N6,3
80,0
00 m
N6,3
65,0
00 m
N6,3
70,0
00 m
N6,3
60,0
00 m
N
490,000 mE
460,000 mE
465,000 mE 480,000 mE475,000 mE470,000 mE460,000 mE
Wheeler River Camp Location
Overhead Powerline
Fox Lake Road
McArthur Haul Road
Wheeler River J.V.Property
PHOENIX DEPOSITS(Discovered 2008)
GRYPHON ZONE(Discovered 20 )14
LAKE
Tayl
or
Bay
McD
OU
GA
LL
LA
KE
MOON
LAKE
RUSSELL0 1
Kilometres
UTM Projection WGS 84-13N
2 3 4 5
N
November 2015 Source: 5Denison Mines Corp., 201 .
Wheeler River Property
Wheeler River Property Map
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 4-2
4-5
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 5-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY ACCESSIBILITY Access to the Property and deposits is by road, helicopter, or fixed wing aircraft from
Saskatoon. Vehicle access to the Property is by Highway 914, which terminates at the Key
Lake mill. The ore haul road between the Key Lake and McArthur River operations lies
within the eastern part of the Property. An older access road, the Fox Lake Road, between
Key Lake and McArthur River provides access to most of the northwestern side of the
Property. Gravel and sand roads and drill trails provide access by either four-wheel-drive or
all-terrain-vehicle to the rest of the Property.
CLIMATE The climate is typical of the continental sub-arctic region of northern Saskatchewan, with
temperatures ranging from +32°C in summer to -45°C in winter. Winters are long and cold,
with mean monthly temperatures below freezing for seven months of the year. Winter snow
pack averages 70 cm to 90 cm. Field operations are possible year round with the exception
of limitations imposed by lakes and swamps and the periods of break-up and freeze-up.
Freezing of surrounding lakes, in most years, begins in November and break-up occurs
around the middle of May. The average frost-free period is approximately 90 days.
Average annual total precipitation for the region is approximately 450 mm, of which 70% falls
as rain, with more than half occurring from June to September. Snow may occur in all
months but rarely falls in July or August. The prevailing annual wind direction is from the
west with a mean speed of 12 km/hr.
LOCAL RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE La Ronge is the nearest commercial/urban centre where most exploration supplies and
services can be obtained. Two airlines offer daily, scheduled flight services between
Saskatoon and La Ronge (located approximately 600 km and 260 km respectively, south of
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Page 5-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
the Property). Most company employees are on a two week-in and two week-off schedule.
Contractor employees are generally on a longer work schedule.
As noted previously, the Property is well located with respect to all weather roads and the
provincial power grid. Most significantly, the operating Key Lake mill complex, owned and
operated by Cameco, is approximately 35 km south of the Property.
Field operations are currently conducted from Denison’s Wheeler River camp, four
kilometres south of Gryphon and three kilometres southwest of Phoenix (Figure 4-2). The
camp, which is operated by Denison, provides accommodations for up to forty exploration
personnel. Fuel and miscellaneous supplies are stored in existing warehouse and tank
facilities at the camp. The site generates its own power. Abundant water is available from
the numerous lakes and rivers in the area.
PHYSIOGRAPHY The Property is characterized by a relatively flat till plain with elevations ranging from 477 m
to 490 MASL. Throughout the area, there is a distinctive northeasterly trend to landforms
resulting from the passage of Pleistocene glacial ice from the northeast to the southwest.
The topography and vegetation at the Property are typical of the taiga forested land common
to the Athabasca Basin area of northern Saskatchewan.
The area is covered with overburden from 0 m to 130 m in thickness. The terrain is gently
rolling and characterized by forested sand and dunes. Vegetation is dominated by black
spruce and jack pine, with occasional small stands of white birch occurring in more
productive and well-drained areas. Lowlands are generally well drained but can contain
some muskeg and poorly drained bog areas with vegetation varying from wet, open, non-
treed vistas to variable density stands of primarily black spruce as well as tamarack
depending on moisture and soil conditions. Lichen growth is common in this boreal
landscape mostly associated with mature coniferous stands and bogs.
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Page 6-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
6 HISTORY PRIOR OWNERSHIP The Wheeler River Property was staked on July 6, 1977, due to its proximity to the Key Lake
uranium discoveries, and was vended into an agreement on December 28, 1978 among
AGIP Canada Ltd. (AGIP), E&B Explorations Ltd. (E&B), and Saskatchewan Mining
Development Corporation (SMDC), with each holding a one-third interest. On July 31, 1984,
all parties divested a 13.3% interest and allowed Denison Mines Limited, a predecessor
company to Denison, to earn a 40% interest. On December 1, 1986, E&B allowed PNC
Exploration (Canada) Co. Ltd. (PNC) to earn a 10% interest from one-half of its 20% interest.
In the early 1990s, AGIP sold its 20% interest to Cameco, which was a successor to SMDC.
In 1996, Imperial Metals Corporation, a successor to E&B, sold an 8% interest to Cameco
and a 2% interest to PNC. Participating interests in 2004 were Cameco 48%, JCU 12% (a
successor to PNC), and Denison 40%.
In late 2004, Denison entered into an agreement to earn a further 20% interest by expending
$7 million within six years. When the earn-in obligations were completed, the participating
interests were Denison 60%, Cameco 30%, and JCU 10%. Since November 2004, Denison
has been the operator of the Wheeler River Joint Venture.
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Excluding years 1990 to 1994, exploration activities comprising airborne and ground
geophysical surveys, geochemical surveys, prospecting and diamond drilling have been
carried out on the Wheeler River Property continuously from 1978 to the present.
Subsequent to the discovery of the Key Lake mine in 1975 and 1976, the Key Lake
exploration model (Dahlkamp and Tan 1977) has emphasized the spatial association
between uranium deposition at, immediately above, or immediately below the unconformity
with graphitic pelite units in the basement subcrop under the basal Athabasca sandstone.
The graphitic pelite units are commonly intensely sheared and are highly conductive in
contrast to the physically more competent adjoining rock types that include semipelite,
psammite, meta-arkose, or granitoid gneiss. From the late 1970s to the present, the Key
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Page 6-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Lake model has been useful in discovering blind uranium deposits throughout the Athabasca
Basin (Jefferson et al. 2007), although it is worth noting that the vast majority of
electromagnetic (EM) conductors are unmineralized.
Following the Key Lake exploration model, EM techniques were the early geophysical
methods of choice for the Wheeler River Property area during the period 1978 to 2004 and
more than 152 line-km of EM conductors have been delineated on the Property. These
conductive units have been delineated to depths of 1,000 m, through the quartz-rich
Athabasca Group sandstones that are effectively transparent from an EM perspective.
These conductors or conductor systems were assigned a unique designation and follow-up
exploration drilling successfully identified several zones of uranium mineralization.
In 1982, AGIP discovered the MAW Zone. This alteration system contains rare earth element
(REE) mineralization in a structurally disrupted zone which extends from the unconformity to
the present surface. There is no evidence of uranium mineralization. The REE
mineralization contains yttrium values greater than 2.0%, boron values up to 2.5%, and total
rare earth oxide (REO) up to 8.1%.
In 1985, SMDC (predecessor to Cameco) drilled ZK-02 to test a moderate UTEM conductor
axis in a previously unexplored area along the K-North conductor, which is now known as
Gryphon. The drill hole intersected several zones of hydrothermal alteration in the
sandstone indicating the conductor was likely overshot and thus lay grid east of ZK-02.
In 1986, SMDC intersected uranium mineralization associated with Ni-Co-As sulphides at the
unconformity in the M Zone (DDH ZM-10, 0.79% U3O8 over 5.75 m), and also discovered
uranium mineralization at the O Zone, which is associated with a 72 m vertical unconformity
offset. The O Zone basement-hosted mineralization graded 0.048% U3O8 over 0.9 m at
378.8 m in drill hole ZO-02.
In 1988, Cameco drilled ZK-04 and ZK-06 on the same drill section to test for the UTEM
conductor and follow up on the sandstone alteration. Hole ZK-04 was drilled 120 m grid east
of ZK-02, and hole ZK-06 was drilled 35 m grid west of ZK-04. In drill hole ZK-04, a major
basement fault structure was intersected from 572.6 m to 603.2 m, with associated strong
hydrothermal alteration and a 9.8 m radioactive zone from 581.7 m to 591.5 m. Assays from
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Page 6-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
drill hole ZK-04 returned 0.08% U3O8 over 2.4 m at 580.0 m and 0.19% U3O8 over 2.3 m at
587.7 m. Moderate to strong hydrothermal alteration and associated fault gouges and
fracturing continued to the end of the hole at 631 m (approximately 112 m below the
unconformity surface).
The third hole on this section, ZK-06, was drilled up-dip of ZK-04 in an attempt to locate the
up-dip and unconformity extension of the mineralization intersected in drill hole ZK-04. Two
significant zones of weak mineralization and elevated radioactivity were intersected within a
12.1 m zone, 11 m to 50 m below the unconformity. ZK-06 returned 0.17% U3O8 over 7.7 m
at 532.0 m and 0.06% U3O8 over 4.4 m at 564.6 m. Intense alteration, fracturing and faulting
in the sandstone was noted as well as alteration and structure extending approximately 50 m
into the basement rocks. At this time, ZK-06 was thought to have intersected the
unconformity target and no follow-up was conducted for several years.
From 1995 to 1997, exploration by Cameco identified strong alteration and illitic and dravitic
geochemical enrichment associated with major structures in both the sandstone and the
basement and a significant unconformity offset associated with the “quartzite ridge” which
had been delineated as a result of drilling the Q conductor system.
In 1998, further drilling was carried out at the Q Zone and also at the R Zone (the Phoenix
deposit area). At the R Zone, two drill holes were abandoned in sandstone due to quartz
dissolution (desilicification). The possibility that this sandstone alteration might be of
significance was not emphasized at the time.
In 1999, a geological setting similar to McArthur River’s P2 trend was intersected at the WC
Zone, where faulted graphite-pyrite pelitic gneiss overlay the quartzite ridge. The former
operator (Cameco) noted extensive dravite (boron) alteration in the overlying sandstones.
In 2001, Cameco drilled ZK-23, testing the K1A SWML conductor approximately 250 m grid
east of the ZK-02\ZK-04\ZK-06 drill fence in what is now the Gryphon area. The drill hole
intersected a wide zone of structural disruption within the sandstone 40 m above the
unconformity. The conductive response was explained by a wide zone of moderately
graphitic-pyritic pelitic gneisses. No unconformity or basement mineralization was
intersected and no follow-up drill holes were recommended.
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Page 6-4 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
In 2002, drill hole WR-185 intersected a 175 m unconformity offset along the west contact of
the quartzite ridge. This area was the initial focus of the Wheeler River Joint Venture after
Denison became operator in 2004.
In 2003, 61 shallow reverse circulation (RC) holes were drilled, targeting the
sandstone/overburden interface exploring for alteration zones in the upper sandstone. No
anomalies were detected. Drill hole WR-190A tested the WS UTEM conductor and was
abandoned at 364 m due to deteriorating drilling conditions. This drill hole is located only 90
m from the eventual Phoenix discovery drill hole WR-249. Noticeable desilicification and
bleaching of the sandstone were present, but no noteworthy geochemical anomalies were
identified. A direct current (DC) resistivity survey was also completed to map trends of
alteration within the Athabasca sandstones and underlying basement rocks that might be
related to uranium mineralization.
In November 2004, Denison became operator of the Wheeler River Joint Venture and in
2005 carried out property-wide airborne Fugro GEOTEM EM and Falcon gravity surveys with
five subsequent ground transient EM (TEM) grids completed on GEOTEM anomalies. The
focus for Denison, based on a McArthur River analogy, was the quartzite ridge, particularly
the west, or footwall side of the ridge. Several small regional campaigns were carried out to
test EM conductors located by airborne and ground geophysical surveys.
In 2007, a 154.8 line-km geophysical induced polarization (IP) and magnetotelluric (MT)
survey using Titan 24 DC resistivity technology was undertaken with the prime goals being
the extension of Cameco’s 2003 resistivity survey, surveying of the K and M zones and
exploration of the REA or “Millennium” (WS) zone, which appeared to have attractive
geological features in an underexplored part of the Property. The results showed the
following:
• A very strong resistivity high which delineated the quartzite unit.
• Two strong, well defined resistivity lows both occurring in areas where previous drill holes had been lost in the Athabasca sandstone.
• Well defined resistivity chimneys.
Although 2007 drilling on various 2003 resistivity anomalies did not discover any significant
uranium mineralization, there was some support for the concept that resistivity did “map”
alteration chimneys within the Athabasca sandstone. Alteration chimneys in the Athabasca
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Page 6-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
sandstone above the unconformity or basement-hosted uranium mineralization have been
described from almost all Athabasca Basin uranium deposits, following the first thorough
description of their occurrence at the McClean deposits (Saracoglu et al. 1983; Wallis et al.
1984). The chimneys nearly always have a prominent structural component consisting of
broken and rotated sandstone and a high degree of fracturing and brecciation. These
structural features are accompanied by alteration consisting of variable amounts of bleaching
(removal of diagenetic hematite), silicification, desilification, druzy quartz-lined fractures,
secondary hematite, dravite, and/or clay minerals which can cause resistivity anomalies.
During the winter and spring of 2008, the North Grid resistivity survey data was reinterpreted
and three drill targets, A, B, and C were proposed. These targets were well defined
alteration or resistivity chimneys situated close to the hanging wall of the quartzite unit in
areas where previous attempts to drill ground EM conductors (the WS and the REA) had
failed to reach the unconformity. In 2008, drill hole WR-249 led to the discovery of the
Phoenix deposit. Subsequent drilling identified four mineralized zones over a strike length of
more than one kilometre: Phoenix zones A, B, C, and D.
In March 2014, drill hole WR-556 resulted in discovery of the Gryphon deposit, intersecting
uranium mineralization averaging 15.33% U3O8 over 4.0 m in basement graphitic gneiss, 200
m below the sub-Athabasca unconformity. Since the discovery of the Phoenix deposit in
2008, exploration efforts have been focused on the K-Zone trend which exhibits numerous
favourable exploration criteria including basement quartzite and graphitic gneisses,
basement structures, reverse offsets of the unconformity, weak basement hosted
mineralization near the unconformity, and anomalous sandstone geochemistry and
alteration. Historical holes ZK-04 and ZK-06 drilled in the late 1980s, targeting unconformity-
related mineralization, intersected favourable sandstone structure and alteration as well as
alteration and weak mineralization in the basement approximately 35 m below the
unconformity. Follow-up drilling campaigns attempted to locate unconformity mineralization
up dip of the weak basement mineralization. Gryphon deposit discovery drill hole WR-556
was the first to evaluate the down dip projection of these intersections.
Table 6-1 is a summary of the exploration activities that have been carried out on the
Wheeler River Property.
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Page 6-6 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 6-1 EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Period (Year) Activity 1978-Present The area was previously explored by AGIP and SMDC (Cameco). Since 1978,
several airborne and ground geophysical surveys have defined 152 km of conductor strike length in fourteen conductive zones.
1986-1988 AGIP, SMDC, and Cameco drilled a total of 192 drill holes encountering sub-economic uranium mineralization in the M Zone (1986), O Zone (1986), and K-Zone (1988). Rare earth element mineralization was also discovered in the MAW Zone (1982).
2004 Denison assumed operatorship in 2004 and initially focused on the footwall side of the quartzite ridge (west side of the Property) intersecting sub-economic uranium mineralization.
2008 In 2008, three resistivity targets were drilled leading to the discovery of the Phoenix deposit.
2008-2012 During the period 2008 to 2012, drilling predominantly focused on defining the Phoenix deposits.
2012-Present Subsequent drilling has discovered the Gryphon deposit.
PREVIOUS MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES An initial Mineral Resource estimate was reported for the Phoenix deposit in a NI 43-101
Technical Report by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) dated November 17, 2010 (Table
6-2). An updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Phoenix deposit zones A and B was
prepared by RPA on December 31, 2012 (Table 6-3). Both previous Mineral Resource
estimates are superseded by the Mineral Resource estimate update in the 2014 Phoenix
Report, which incorporates additional drilling since 2012.
TABLE 6-2 SRK MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AS OF NOVEMBER 17, 2010 (100% BASIS)
Denison Mines Corp. – Phoenix Deposit
Deposit Classification Tonnes (000)
Lbs U3O8 (000)
Average Grade (%U3O8)
Zone A Indicated 89.9 35,638 18.0 Zone B Inferred 23.8 3,811 7.3
Source: Arseneau and Revering, 2010.
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Page 6-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 6-3 RPA MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012 (100% BASIS)
Denison Mines Corp. – Phoenix Deposit
Category Tonnes Grade (% U3O8)
Million lb U3O8
Indicated 152,400 15.6 52.3
Inferred 11,600 29.8 7.6
Source: Roscoe, 2012.
The current report includes the Mineral Resource estimate update documented in the 2014
Phoenix Report as well as the initial Mineral Resource estimate for the Gryphon deposit.
There are no previous Mineral Resource estimates for Gryphon.
PAST PRODUCTION To date, no production has occurred on the Property and the Property is still at the
exploration stage.
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Page 7-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION Portions of the following geological descriptions are taken from internal Denison reports of
2009 to 2015.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
GENERAL The Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits are located near the southeastern margin of the
Athabasca Basin in the southwest part of the Churchill Structural Province of the Canadian
Shield (Figure 7-1). The Athabasca Basin is a broad, closed, and elliptically shaped, cratonic
basin with an area of 425 km (east-west) by 225 km (north-south). The bedrock geology of
the area consists of Archean and Paleoproterozoic gneisses unconformably overlain by up to
1,500 m of flat-lying, unmetamorphosed sandstones and conglomerates of the mid-
Proterozoic Athabasca Group. The Property is located near the transition zone between two
prominent litho-structural domains within the Precambrian basement, the Mudjatik Domain to
the west and the Wollaston Domain to the east.
The Mudjatik Domain is characterized by elliptical domes of Archean granitoid orthogenesis
separated by keels of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, whereas the Wollaston
Domain is characterized by tight to isoclinal, northeasterly trending, doubly plunging folds
developed in Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Wollaston Supergroup (Yeo
and Delaney 2007), which overlie Archean granitoid orthogenesis identical to those of the
Mudjatik Domain.
The area is cut by a major northeast-striking fault system of Hudsonian Age. The faults
occur predominantly in the basement rocks but often extend up into the Athabasca Group
due to several periods of post-depositional movement. Diabase sills and dikes up to 100 m
in width and frequently associated with the faulting have intruded into both the Athabasca
rocks and the underlying basement.
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Page 7-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
THE METAMORPHOSED BASEMENT The basement rocks underlying the Athabasca Group have been divided into three tectonic
domains: the Western Craton, the Cree Lake Mobile Zone, and the Rottenstone Complex
(Figures 7-1 and 7-2). The central Cree Lake Mobile Zone is bounded in the northwest by
the Virgin River Shear and Black Lake fault and in the southeast by the Needle Falls Shear
Zone.
The Cree Lake Mobile Zone has been further subdivided into the Mudjatik Domain in the
west half and the Wollaston Domain in the east half. The lithostructural character of these
domains is the result of the Hudsonian Orogeny in which an intense thermo-tectonic period
remobilized the Archean age rocks and led to intensive folding of the overlying Aphebian-age
supracrustal metasedimentary units. The Mudjatik domain represents the orogenic core and
comprises non-linear, felsic, granitoid to gneissic rocks surrounded by subordinate thin
gneissic supracrustal units. These rocks, which have reached granulite-facies metamorphic
grades, usually occur as broad domal features. The adjacent Wollaston Domain consists of
Archean granitoid gneisses overlain by an assemblage of Aphebian pelitic, semipelitic, and
arkosic gneisses, with minor interlayered calc-silicate rocks and quartzites. These rocks are
overlain by an upper assemblage of semipelitic and arkosic gneisses with magnetite bearing
units.
The Wollaston Domain basement rocks are unconformably overlain by flat lying,
unmetamorphosed sandstones, and conglomerates of the Helikian age Athabasca Group,
which is a major aquifer in the area.
THE ATHABASCA GROUP The Athabasca Group sediments consist of unmetamorphosed pink to maroon quartz-rich
pebbly conglomerate and red siltstone of the Read Formation and maroon quartz-pebble
conglomerate, maroon to white pebbly sandstone, sandstone and clay-clast-bearing
sandstone belonging to the Manitou Falls Formation. The sandstone is poorly sorted near
the base, where conglomerates form discontinuous layers of variable thickness. Minor shale
and siltstone occur in the upper half of the succession. Locally, the rocks may be silicified
and indurated or partly altered to clay and softened. In spite of their simple composition,
their diagenetic history is complex (Jefferson et al. 2007). The predominant regional
background clay is dickite.
Phanerozoic
Legend:
Pre-Athabasca Basement
Athabasca Group (Helikian)
Road
Major Shear Zone
Faults
Uranium Deposits
0 25
Kilometres
50 75 100
N
Source: From Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, 2009.
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Regional Geology andUranium Deposits
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
WHEELER RIVER
Figure 7-1
7-3
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WHEELER RIVER
N
November 2015 Source: EXTECH IV.
NOTE: Crystalline basement domains are labeled in bold text. The sub-unit of the Manitou FallsFormation labeled “*” in the legend corresponds to the Warnes and Raible members, whichinterfinger with the Bird (MFb) Member in southern and northern Athabasca Basin respectively.
Wheeler River Property
Simplified Geological Map ofAthabasca Basin
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 7-2
7-4
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Page 7-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
The basin is interpreted to have developed from a series of early northeast-trending fault-
bounded sub-basins that coalesced. The topographic profile of the unconformity suggests a
gentle inward slope in the east, moderate to steep slopes in the north and south, and a
steeper slope in the west.
Subdivisions of the Athabasca Group in the eastern part of the basin (Figure 7-2) include four
members from bottom to top:
• Read Formation (formerly the MFa Member) - a sequence of poorly sorted sandstone and minor conglomerate;
• Bird Member (MFb) - interbedded sandstone and conglomerate distinguished from the underlying MFa and overlying MFc by the presence of at least 1% to 2% conglomerate in beds thicker than 2 cm;
• Collins Member (MFc) - a sandstone with rare clay intraclasts;
• Dunlop Member (MFd) - a fine-grained sandstone with abundant (>1%) clay intraclasts.
QUATERNARY DEPOSITS In the eastern Athabasca Basin, Quaternary glacial deposits up to 100 m thick drape bedrock
topography of ridges, typically associated with granitic gneiss domes, and structurally
controlled valleys (Campbell 2007). At least three tills, locally separated by stratified gravel,
sand, and silt, can be distinguished. The dominant ice-flow direction was southwesterly, but
a late glacial re-advance was southerly in eastern parts of the basin and westerly along its
northern edge.
LOCAL AND PROPERTY GEOLOGY
GENERAL The Wheeler River Property lies in the eastern part of the Athabasca Basin where
undeformed, late Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic sandstone, conglomerate, and
mudstone of the Athabasca Group unconformably overlie early Paleoproterozoic and
Archean crystalline basement rocks, as described below. The local geology of the Property
is very much consistent with the regional geology described above.
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Page 7-6 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
QUATERNARY DEPOSITS The Property is partially covered by lakes and muskeg, which overlie a complex succession
of glacial deposits up to 130 m in thickness These include eskers and outwash sand plains,
well-developed drumlins, till plains, and glaciofluvial plain deposits (Campbell 2007). The
orientation of the drumlins reflects southwesterly ice flow.
ATHABASCA GROUP Little-deformed late Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic Athabasca Group strata comprised
of Manitou Falls Formation sandstones and conglomerates unconformably overlie the
crystalline basement and have a considerable range (Figure 7-3) from 170 m over the
quartzite ridge to at least 560 m on the western side of the Property.
The Manitou Falls Formation is locally separated from the underlying Read Formation
(formerly the MFa) by a paraconformity, and comprises three units, the Bird Member (MFb),
Collins Member (MFc), and Dunlop Member (MFd), which are differentiated based on
conglomerates and clay intraclasts (Bosman and Korness 2007) (Ramaekers et al. 2007).
Thickness of the Read Formation ranges from zero metres at the north end of the property
and over parts of the quartzite ridge to 200 m west of the quartzite ridge. The thickness of
the MFb, which is absent above the quartzite ridge, is as much as 210 m in the northeastern
part of the Property. The MFc unit is a relatively clean sandstone with locally scattered
granules or pebbles and one-pebble-thick conglomerate layers interpreted to be pebble lag
deposits. The MFc ranges in thickness from 30 m to 150 m. The MFd is distinguished from
the underlying MFc sandstone by the presence of at least 0.6% clay intraclasts (Bosman and
Korness, 2007). The MFd is up to 140 m thick. The upper 100 m to 140 m of sandstone is
typically buff coloured, medium to coarse grained, quartz rich and cemented by silica,
kaolinite, illite, sericite, or hematite. Alteration of the sandstone is noted along much of the
Phoenix deposit trend.
Variations in thickness of the Athabasca sub-units reflect syndepositional subsidence. In
particular, the thinning of the Read Formation towards the quartzite ridge, and the absence of
both the Read and the MFb Member over much of the ridge, indicate syn-Read uplift of the
latter along the thrust fault that bounds it to the west. This is supported by the Read
Formation sedimentary breccia, interpreted as a fault-scarp talus deposit, along the western
margin of the ridge.
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Page 7-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Although the predominant regional background clay in the Athabasca Basin is dickite, the
Property lies within a broad illite anomaly trending northeasterly from Key Lake through the
McArthur River area (Earle and Sopuck 1989). Chlorite and dravite are also relatively
common in sandstones within this zone.
The topography of the sub-Athabasca basement varies dramatically across the Property.
From elevations of 160 MASL to 230 MASL along its southeastern edge, the unconformity
rises gently to a pronounced northeasterly trending ridge up to 350 MASL, coincident with
the subcrop of a quartzite unit in the crystalline basement. The unconformity surface drops
steeply westward to as low as 30 m below sea level. The unconformity surface is less
variable in the northern part of the Property, ranging from 40 MASL in the northeast to 200
MASL in the northwest.
The west side of the quartzite unit forms a prominent topographic scarp, rising up to 200 m
above the sub-Athabasca unconformity lying to the west. The breccia of angular quartzite
blocks, centimetres to metres in size, with a finely laminated sandstone matrix, has been
intersected in numerous drill holes along the western margin (footwall) of the quartzite ridge.
The quartzite breccia is often intimately associated with uranium mineralization that occurs at
numerous locations along the footwall of the quartzite unit.
The Athabasca sandstones were deposited as a succession of sandy and gravelly braided
river deposits in westward-flowing streams. The conglomerates typical of MFb indicate
increased stream competence, due either to increased flow (i.e., higher precipitation) or
increased subsidence. The mud chips typical of MFd are fragments of thin mud beds
deposited from suspension during the late stages of a flood and re-worked by the next one.
Hence, they indicate intermittent, possibly seasonal, stream flow (Liu et al. 2011).
Quartzite Breccia
Semipelitic withGraphitic Pelite Interlayers
Graphitic Pelite
Quartzite
Granitoid Gneiss
Thrust
Shear
Source: 5Denison Mines Corp., 201 .November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Schematic Section of Athabascaand Basement Rock Types
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 7-3
7-8
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Page 7-9 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
BASEMENT GEOLOGY Basement rocks beneath the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits are part of the Wollaston
Domain and are comprised of metasedimentary and granitoid gneisses (Figure 7-4). The
metasedimentary rocks belong to the Wollaston Supergroup and include graphitic and non-
graphitic pelitic and semipelitic gneisses, meta-quartzite, and rare calc-silicate rocks together
with felsic and quartz feldspathic granitoid gneisses. These metasedimentary rocks are
interpreted to belong to the Daly Lake Group (Yeo and Delaney 2007). Pegmatitic
segregations and intrusions are common in all units with garnet, cordierite, and sillimanite
occurring in the pelitic strata, indicating an upper amphibolite grade of metamorphism.
Graphitic pelite and quartzite units appear to play important roles in the genesis of Athabasca
Basin unconformity-type deposits (Jefferson et al. 2007). Thus the presence of extensive
subcrop of both units: 18 km of quartzite and 152 line-km of conductors (assumed to be
graphitic pelite), greatly enhances the economic potential of the Wheeler River Property.
All of these rock types have a low magnetic susceptibility. The metasedimentary rocks are
flanked by and intercalated with granitoid gneisses, some of which have a relatively high
magnetic susceptibility. Some of these granitoid gneisses are Archean (Card et al. 2007).
Prior to extensive drilling, interpretation of basement geology depends heavily on airborne
magnetic data combined with airborne and ground EM interpretation.
A “Paleoweathered Zone”, generally from three to ten metres thick, is superimposed on the
crystalline rocks and occurs immediately below the unconformity.
Source: 5Denison Mines Corp., 201 .November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Basement Geology
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 7-4
7-10
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Page 7-11 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
PHOENIX DEPOSIT The quartzite ridge, an interpreted impermeable and structural barrier forming the footwall to
the mineralization (Figure 7-5), dominates the basement geology at the Phoenix deposit.
The quartzite unit exhibits variable dips from 45º to 75º to the southeast, averaging 50º, and
with an undulating, but generally 055º azimuth. Immediately overlying the quartzite is a
garnetiferous pelite, which varies from seven metres to 60 m in thickness. This generally
competent and unmineralized unit contains distinctive porphyroblastic garnets and acts as a
marker horizon. Overlying the garnetiferous pelite is a graphitic pelite in which the graphite
content varies from 1% to 40%. The graphitic pelite is approximately five metres wide in the
southwest, increases to approximately 70 m near drill hole WR-249, and is 50 m wide at the
northeast extremity. Overlying the graphitic pelite is a massive, non-graphitic, unaltered
pelite unit.
Mineralization at Phoenix generally occurs at the Athabasca unconformity with basement
rocks at depths ranging from 390 m to 420 m. It is interpreted to be structurally controlled by
the northeast-southwest trending (055º azimuth) WS fault which dips 55º to the southeast on
the east side of the quartzite ridge (Figure 7-6).
GRYPHON DEPOSIT The geology of the Gryphon deposit comprises highly deformed crystalline basement rocks
overlain by the relatively undeformed Athabasca sandstone. There are four main sandstone
members of the Manitou Falls (MF) Formation present (from youngest to oldest): MFd, MFc,
MFb, and the Read Formation. At the Gryphon deposit, the thickness of the Athabasca
sandstone cover ranges from 480 m in the southeast to 540 m in the northwest. The
unconformity surface down-drops in a series of steps to the northwest. There is
approximately 60 m of vertical displacement over 250 m across strike.
Four major basement lithological units have been defined at Gryphon (Figure 7-7):
1. Upper Graphite - The Upper Graphite is approximately 110 m thick, occurs furthest stratigraphically to the southeast, and is located in the hanging wall to the mineralization (Upper Lens). This pelitic unit averages 5% to 8% graphite in the upper portion of the unit grading to 10% to 15% in the lower portion of the unit. The unit is well foliated and strikes at 030° dipping at 50° to the southeast.
2. Quartz-Pegmatite Assemblage – Stratigraphically below the Upper Graphite is the Quartz-Pegmatite Assemblage. This unit is approximately 55 m thick and consists of
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Page 7-12 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
several smaller (five metre to nine metre) discrete sub-units of alternating quartzite, quartz-rich pegmatite, pegmatite, and graphitic pelites.
3. Lower Graphite - Underlying the Quartz-Pegmatite Assemblage is the Lower Graphite. This pelitic unit is approximately 15 m thick and averages 10% to 15% graphite. It is well foliated and strikes approximately 030° and dips 45° to the southeast, and is located in the footwall to the Upper Lens mineralization. The Lower Lens mineralization occurs predominantly in this unit.
4. Basal Pegmatite – Stratigraphically below the Lower Graphite is the Basal Pegmatite. This is a pegmatitic to coarse grained granitic unit which is competent and relatively unaltered. Within the Basal Pegmatite, there are multiple minor (one metre to two metre) pelitic intervals.
Phoenix
Gryphon
Quartzite Breccia
Semipelitic withGraphitic Pelite Interlayers
Graphitic Pelite
Quartzite
Granitoid Gneiss
Thrust
Shear
Source: 5Denison Mines Corp., 201 .November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Schematic of theQuartzite Ridge
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 7-5
7-13
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Elevation(metres above sea level)
0 5
Metres
10 15 20
Pelite
Graphitic Pelite
Garnetiferous Pelite
Quartzite
Shear Zones/Reverse Faults
Low Grade Domain
Phoenix Deposit
High Grade Domain
Source: Denison Mines Corp., 2010.November 2015
Wheeler River Property
WS Reverse Fault Offsetand the Phoenix Deposit
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 67-
7-14
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Intense sandstone alterationextending into basement
Sub-Athabascaunconformity
1.0 m @ 3.80% U O3 8
(1.0% cut-off)
4.5 m @ 21.2% U O3 8
(1.0% cut-off)
4.0 m @ 15.3% U O3 8
(1.0% cut-off)
Lower LensUpper Lens
NW SE
Legend:
Undifferentiated
Quartzite-Pegmatite
Quartz-Pegmatite
Graphitic Pelite
Sandstone
100 mNovember 2015 Source: Denison Mines Corp., 2015.
Wheeler River Property
Gryphon Basement Geology
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 7-7
EXT
7-15
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Page 7-16 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
ALTERATION
PHOENIX DEPOSIT At Phoenix, typical unconformity-associated alteration is evident, with a form and nature
similar to other Athabasca Basin unconformity-associated deposits. The sandstones are
altered for as much as 200 m above the unconformity and exhibit varying degrees of
silicification and desilicification (which causes many technical drilling problems), as well as
dravitization, chloritization, and illitization. In addition, hydrothermal hematite and druzy
quartz are present in the sandstone and commonly in the basement rocks. Alteration is
focussed along structures propagating upward from the WS shear and associated splays,
and probably does not exceed 100 m width across strike, making this a relatively narrow
exploration target. The basement in the northeast part of the Phoenix deposit is much more
extensively bleached and clay altered than that to the southwest.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT At Gryphon, alteration in the Athabasca sandstone is quite variable relative to the basement-
hosted mineralization. Directly above Gryphon, the typical alteration sequence above the
unconformity (from surface to the unconformity) is described as follows:
• The upper 100 m to 150 m of sandstone is typically weakly bleached and silicified.
• From approximately 150 m to 440 m, there is no significant alteration. Diagenetic hematite banding is predominant.
• From approximately 440 m to 540 m, variable amounts of alteration occur, which include: o Moderate bleaching, irregular bands of hydrothermal hematite, and patchy
silicification from 490 m to 540 m; o Pervasive silicification and strong dravitic interstitial clays from 515 m to 540 m; o Alternating silicification and desilicification with strong grey alteration, pyrite
development, and dravite rich breccias from 440 m to 540 m.
Sandstone alteration is generally lacking in the hanging wall to the Gryphon mineralization,
although drill holes that intersected an up-faulted basement wedge exhibit moderate
silicification with preserved diagenetic hematite.
Sandstone alteration in the footwall to the Gryphon mineralization consists of isolated
alteration zones with strong bleaching, grey alteration, silicification, and vuggy quartz. The
isolated zones of alteration are assumed to be related to the up-dip projection of the
offsetting basement reverse faults to the southeast.
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Page 7-17 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Basement alteration exhibits a zoned sequence around mineralization. Directly below the
unconformity, the typical basement paleoweathering profile is preserved. Distal alteration
includes chlorite and sericite. Proximal alteration signatures include weak bleaching, dravite
and druzy quartz formation. Strong clay replacement, pervasive bleaching, and strong
dravite are intimately associated with mineralization. Hematite is also commonly directly
associated with mineralization. Clay alteration mineralogy is dominated by illite with
subordinate kaolinite and chlorite.
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY The Wheeler River Property lies in the Wollaston Domain, a northeast trending fold and
thrust belt with recumbently folded, early Paleoproterozoic, Wollaston Supergroup
metasedimentary rocks intercalated with granitoid gneisses, some of which are of Archean
age.
Numerous hypothetical structural models have been proposed for the Property. The simplest
model infers a southeast dipping homocline. The presence of mechanically competent
quartzite units, as well as the bounding units of competent granitoid gneiss, together with the
many kilometres of relatively incompetent graphitic pelite provides a situation for the
extensive development of thrust and strike slip/wrench fault tectonics, as well as later normal
faults, at competent/incompetent interfaces (Liu et al. 2011).
PHOENIX DEPOSIT The major structural feature at the Phoenix deposit is the northeast-southwest trending (055º
azimuth) WS reverse fault which dips 55º to the southeast and lies within or at the base of
the graphitic pelite unit along the east edge (hanging wall) of the quartzite ridge, which
appears to have acted as a buttress for thrusting and reverse faulting (Kerr 2010; Kerr et al.
2011). Deformation within the WS fault has occurred partly by ductile shearing, but mainly
by fracturing. A progressive sequence of fracturing is evident by variations in the strike and
dip of slickensides. The principal stress directions responsible for early deformation were
northwest-southeast. A change in the principal stress to an east-west direction led to later
strike-slip movement along the WS shear. Later extension is indicated by northwest-striking
normal faults, which dip steeply to the southwest.
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Page 7-18 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
With the limited data currently available, it appears that the WS structure was most active
during deposition of the Read Formation, however, continued uplift is indicated by westward
tilting of MFc strata along the fault zone. Reverse fault displacements on the western edge
of the quartzite ridge occurred primarily within the highly resistant quartzite unit. Within the
Wheeler River area, vertical offset on the footwall of the quartzite unit can be as much as 60
m; however, at the Phoenix deposit, known vertical displacements in the hanging wall
sequence are always less than 10 m (Figure 7-6).
Mineralization hosted in the lower 15 m of the Athabasca sandstone appears to have some
relationship to the extensions of the WS fault and its various hanging wall splays; hence,
movement on these faults must have continued after deposition of rocks of the Read
Formation and probably the MFd member of the Manitou Falls Formation. The WS fault and
its various interpreted hanging wall splays may have been the main conduit for the
mineralizing fluids. Thus, determining favourable locations along the WS fault, where zones
of long-lived permeability are present, is of critical importance. A northwesterly trending
diabase dyke, probably part of the 1.27 Ga Mackenzie dyke swarm, cuts across the
sandstones on the northern part of the Property.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Gryphon’s structural setting is characterized by a series of thrust faults displacing the
unconformity upwards to the southeast in multiple steps. These structures are generally
located at the contact between the less competent graphitic pelites and more competent
quartz-pegmatites, pegmatites, and pelitic units. They are described as a combination of
cataclasites and gouges, and intervals of blocky and friable core. The most significant
structures occur at the contact of the upper graphite with the overlying pelite and at the base
of the upper graphite in contact with the underlying quartz-pegmatite. These structures are
termed the Offset Fault and Graphitic Fault (G-Fault) respectively. Mineralization generally
occurs along the G-Fault and its associated subordinate parallel structures where a
shallowing of stratigraphic foliation is observed. Structural data analysis has recorded several
thrust faults with reverse sinistral movement. The shallowing of foliation in combination with
reverse sinistral movement would have provided a zone of dilation, amenable to fluid
movement and uranium precipitation.
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Page 7-19 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
MINERALIZATION
PHOENIX DEPOSIT Uranium mineralization at the Phoenix deposit occurs at the unconformity between
Athabasca sandstones and basement rocks, with the most intense mineralization adjacent to
the WS fault. A minor amount is basement fracture hosted mineralization extending below
the north part of zone A. The Phoenix deposit can be classified as an unconformity-
associated uranium deposit.
Mineralization and alteration have been traced over a strike length of approximately one
kilometre. Since discovery hole WR-249 was drilled in 2008, 253 drill holes have reached
the target depth, delineating two distinct zones (A and B) of high-grade uranium
mineralization.
Mineralization is in the form of the oxide uraninite/pitchblende (UO2). Analyses of all
accompanying metals are low, particularly in comparison with other unconformity or
sandstone-hosted deposits, which can have very high values for nickel, cobalt, and arsenic
(Jefferson et al. 2007). For example, drill hole WR-273, from 406.0 m to 406.5 m, assays
78.3% U3O8, 35 ppm Ni, 30 ppm Co, 0.05 ppm As, 26 ppm Zn, 221 ppm Ag, 284 ppm Cu,
and 9.83% Pb. Some intersections can have significantly higher values for many trace
elements, e.g., drill hole WR-287, from 408.5 m to 409.0 m, assays 26.8% U3O8, 461 ppm Ni,
119 ppm Co, 170 ppm As, 1,070 ppm Zn, 11.2 ppm Ag, 3,200 ppm Cu, and 2.25% Pb.
Average trace metal concentrations for Phoenix assay samples greater than 0.2% U3O8 are
as follows: 576 ppm Ni, 194 ppm Co, 319 ppm As, 2,092 ppm Zn, 18 ppm Ag, 7,176 ppm Cu,
and 9,143 ppm Pb.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Mineralization at Gryphon occurs 720 m below surface and is centred approximately 220 m
below the sub-Athabasca unconformity. It is within 80 m of the unconformity at its highest
point and 370 m below the unconformity at its deepest point. The deposit consists of a set of
parallel, stacked, elongate lenses that are broadly conformable with the basement geology
and associated with a significant fault zone (G Fault) that separates a thin unit of quartzite
(quartz-pegmatite) from an overlying graphitic pelite (upper graphite). The lenses dip
moderately to the southeast and plunge moderately to the northeast. The deposit is
approximately 450 m long in the plunge direction and 80 m wide across the plunge.
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Page 7-20 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Thickness is variable and is a function of the number of stacked lenses present, generally
varying between two metres and 20 m. To date, the majority of mineralization is hosted
within two lenses associated with the upper and lower graphite units. Two predominant
types of mineralization have been noted:
• Irregular Fracture Fill - Weak, dark black, low grade mineralization occurring as blebs
and foliation-parallel fracture fill associated with breccias and centimetre-scale dravite veinlets in the Upper Graphite.
• Semi Massive - Black, high grade mineralization associated with hematite and
secondary uranium minerals occurring as lenses and pods parallel to foliation. “Worm rock” textures are also observed.
Mineralization at Gryphon is dominated by uraninite/pitchblende, with very minor coffinite and
trace carnotite, uranophane, and brannerite. Gangue mineralogy is dominated by alteration
clays (illite, kaolinite, chlorite), dravite and hematite with minor relict quartz, biotite, graphite,
zircon, and ilmenite. Only trace concentrations of sulphides are noted comprising galena,
chalcopyrite, and pyrite.
Average trace metal concentrations for Gryphon assay samples greater than 0.2% U3O8 are
as follows: 107 ppm Ni, 62 ppm Co, 30 ppm As, 18 ppm Zn, 14 ppm Ag, 301 ppm Cu, and
3,525 ppm Pb. These concentrations are lower than those recorded for the Phoenix deposit.
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Page 8-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
8 DEPOSIT TYPES Both the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits are classified as Athabasca Basin unconformity-
associated uranium deposits. Phoenix straddles the unconformity contact between the
Athabasca Sandstone and underlying basement, while Gryphon is entirely hosted in the
basement rocks. Jefferson et al. (2007) offered the following definition for the geological
environment of this type of mineralization.
Unconformity-associated uranium deposits are pods, veins, and semi-massive replacements
consisting of mainly uraninite, close to basal unconformities, in particular those between
Proterozoic conglomeratic sandstone basins and metamorphosed basement rocks.
Prospective basins in Canada are filled by thin, relatively flat-lying, and apparently
unmetamorphosed but pervasively altered, Proterozoic (~1.8 Ga to <1.55 Ga), mainly fluvial,
red-bed quartzose conglomerate, sandstone, and mudstone. The basement gneiss was
intensely weathered and deeply eroded with variably preserved thicknesses of reddened,
clay-altered, hematitic regolith grading down through a green chloritic zone into fresh rock.
The basement rocks typically comprise highly metamorphosed interleaved Archean to
Paleoproterozoic granitoid and supracrustal gneiss including graphitic metapelite that hosts
many of the uranium deposits. The bulk of the U-Pb isochron ages on uraninite are in the
range of 1,600 Ma to 1,350 Ma. Monometallic, generally basement-hosted uraninite fills
veins, breccia fillings, and replacements in fault zones. Polymetallic, commonly
subhorizontal, semi-massive replacement uraninite forms lenses just above or straddling the
unconformity, with variable amounts of uranium, nickel, cobalt and arsenic; and traces of
gold, platinum-group elements, copper, rare-earth elements, and iron.
The uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin occur below, across, and immediately above
the unconformity, which can lie within a few metres of surface at the rim of the Basin, to over
1,000 m deep near its centre. The deposits formed by extensive hydrothermal systems
occurring at the unconformity's structural boundary between the older and younger rock
units. Major deep-seated structures are also interpreted to have played an important role in
the hydrothermal process, likely acting as conduits for hot mineralized fluids that eventually
pooled and crystallized in the structural traps provided by the unconformity. One of the
necessary reducing fluids originates in the basement, and flows along basement faults. A
second, oxidizing fluid originates within the Athabasca sandstone stratigraphy and migrates
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Page 8-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
through the inherent porosity. In appropriate circumstances, these two fluids mix and
precipitate uranium in a structural trap at or near the basal Athabasca unconformity with
basement rocks.
Two end-members of the deposit model have been defined (Quirt 2003). A sandstone-
hosted egress-type model (e.g., Midwest A) involved the mixing of oxidized, sandstone brine
with relatively reduced fluids issuing from the basement into the sandstone. Basement-
hosted, ingress-type deposits (e.g., Rabbit Lake) formed by fluid-rock reactions between
oxidizing sandstone brine entering basement fault zones and the local wall rock. Both types
of mineralization and associated host-rock alteration occurred at sites of basement–
sandstone fluid interaction where a spatially stable redox gradient/front was present.
Although either type of deposit can be high grade, ranging in grade from a few percent to
20% U3O8, they are not volumetrically large and typically occur as narrow, linear lenses often
at considerable depth. In plain view, the deposits can be 100 m to 150 m long and a few
metres to 30 m wide and/or thick. Egress-type deposits tend to be polymetallic (U-Ni-Co-Cu-
As) and typically follow the trace of the underlying graphitic pelites and associated faults,
along the unconformity. Ingress-type, essentially monomineralic U deposits, can have more
irregular geometry.
Unconformity-type uranium deposits are surrounded by extensive alteration envelopes. In
the basement, these envelopes are generally relatively narrow but become broader where
they extend upwards into the Athabasca group for tens of metres to even 100 m or more
above the unconformity. Hydrothermal alteration is variously marked by chloritization,
tourmalinization (high boron, dravite), hematization (several episodes), illitization,
silicification/desilicification, and dolomitization. Modern exploration for these types of
deposits relies heavily on deep-penetrating geophysics and down-hole geochemistry.
Figures 8-1 and 8-2 illustrate various models for unconformity-type uranium deposits of the
Athabasca Basin. The geology of both the Phoenix and the Gryphon deposits and the
controls on mineralization are sufficiently well understood for Mineral Resource estimation, in
RPA’s opinion.
NOT TO SCALE
November 2015 Source: Denison Mines Corp., 2010.
Denison Mines Corp.
Wheeler River Property
Schematic of UncomformityType Uranium Deposit
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 8-1
8-3
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
metapelite
Grap
hitic
Paleo
pro
terozo
ic
Metased
imen
tary
schist
and
gneisses
Tonalitic-
gran
iticgneiss
RDRD cgl
Fractures & Dissolution
Paleo valley-
EW
~ 100 mHorizontal
not to scale
Archean to
Paleoproterozoic (>1750 Ma)
metasedimentary, meta-
volcanic and metagranitic
gneiss and schist
Paleoweathering over-
printed by alteration
Unconformity
Paleoproterozoic (<1780 Ma)
Athabasca Group:
quartz arenite, mudstone
and quartz conglomerate
Drumlins and drift
- basement hosted
- uranium
- lower total REEs; HREEs / LREEs >1
- basement hosted
- uranium
- lower total REEs; HREEs / LREEs >1
Mono-
metallic:
Mono-
metallic:
- 'sandstone' hosted
- U, Ni, Co, Cu, As
- high total REEs; HREEs / LREEs ~1
- 'sandstone' hosted
- U, Ni, Co, Cu, As
- high total REEs; HREEs / LREEs ~1
Poly-
metallic:
Poly-
metallic:
Silicifi
edzo
ne
MFb
MFc
MFdSilicifiedThrust /
R Feverse aults
Ath
abasc
aUra
nium MultidisciplinaryS
tud
y
EXTECH IV
Ath
abasc
aUra
nium MultidisciplinaryS
tud
y
Ath
abasc
aUra
nium MultidisciplinaryS
tud
y
Paleo topo- g.& / or laterStructural
High
Pale
o-
pro
tero
zoic
Meta
quartzite
and
eta
-ark
ose
M
November 2015 Source: From Jefferson et al., 2007.
Wheeler River Property
Illustration of Various Models forUnconformity Type Deposits
of the Athabasca Basin
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 8-2
8-4
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Page 9-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
9 EXPLORATION Since discovery of the McArthur River deposit in 1988, the McArthur River exploration model
(McGill et al. 1993) has emphasized a different association between uranium mineralization
and rock type compared to the earlier Key Lake exploration model. At McArthur River, one
of the most significant rock types in the basement succession is a massive, homogenous,
and competent quartzite. Mechanically, particularly compared to the adjacent layered
members of the basement stratigraphy, the quartzite is extremely competent, and thus exerts
an important control both in basement and post-Athabasca sandstone structural evolution.
Both the footwall and hanging wall contacts of the quartzite unit, particularly where these
contacts involve highly incompetent rocks such as graphitic pelite, are sites of major thrust
and strike-slip faults.
Although these faults are loci for mineralization; the poor conductivity, low magnetic
susceptibilities, and low density values associated with the quartzite limits the effectiveness
of airborne and ground geophysical methods in mapping these basement units especially
when they are covered by hundreds of metres of sandstone. Another noteworthy
characteristic of McArthur River type mineralization is the widespread presence of
hydrothermal dravite, indicating boron addition into the overlying Athabasca sandstone.
Thus, borehole geochemistry and drilling are the primary exploration methods.
With the exception of drilling, exploration work performed on the Property by Denison since
2008 is summarized in this section. Work completed on the Property and its immediate
vicinity by other parties prior to 2008 is summarized in Section 6 of this report. Drilling
completed on the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits is summarized in Section 10 Drilling.
GROUND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
2009 INDUCED POLARIZATION SURVEY Following the discovery of the Phoenix deposit in 2008, Denison as operator of the Wheeler
River Joint Venture, completed DC Resistivity/IP surveys comprising 60.2 line-km in 2009.
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Page 9-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
2010 TRANSIENT ELECTROMAGNETIC (TEM) SURVEY During February and March 2010, a geophysical program consisting of 25.2 km of a fixed
loop surface TEM survey and 51.0 km of a step loop TEM survey was completed on three
lines of the previously established 2007 Wheeler River grid. Three lines of step-wise moving
loop (SWML) TEM surveying was completed on three previously defined resistivity
anomalies in attempt to better define any conductive axis associated with graphitic basement
features that could act as conduits for mineralizing events. The resistivity signature located
on L40+00N is known to be associated with the uranium mineralization associated with the
Gryphon deposit.
2011-2012 INDUCED POLARIZATION SURVEY The 2011 exploration program on the Property carried out by Denison included a 120.6 line-
km Titan 24 DC/IP survey. Additional Titan 24 surveying (48.8 line-km) was completed in
2012.
2013 INDUCED POLARIZATION SURVEY In 2013, the Wheeler River Joint Venture completed a 127.0 line-km Titan 24 DC/IP survey
over two areas previously not covered (R North and K West areas)
2014 INDUCED POLARIZATION, GRAVITY AND SWML EM SURVEYS Geophysical exploration in 2014 consisted of the following work, with primary focus being the
K-North area and its close vicinity:
• 46.05 line-km over three lines of infill SWML EM in the K-North area to complete areas previously not covered.
• 43 line-km over two lines of SWML in the WS South area covering areas of interest from the 2013 Titan 24 DC/IP survey.
• 48 line-km of ground gravity covering the O Zone, where historic drilling showed a large unconformity offset with weak uranium mineralization.
• A 52.0 line-km ground gravity survey was carried out in 2014 over the K-North area to test if the unconformity offset seen in drill core could be defined by this method.
• A 67.2 km extension of the 2007 North Titan 24 DC/IP survey to complete the coverage over the K-North area.
• A 3D DC/IP survey to attempt to resolve a 2 km by 2 km geologically/geophysically complex area north of Phoenix zone A.
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Page 9-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
2015 INDUCED POLARIZATION SURVEY In 2015, the Wheeler River Joint Venture completed a 149.5 line-km Titan 24 DC/IP survey
over two areas previously not covered (O Zone and the southern parts of the K and Q
Zones).
AIRBORNE SURVEYS 2013 VTEM SURVEY In 2013, a helicopter borne versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM)-magnetic-
radiometric survey was conducted over the Property. The survey comprised 990 line-km at a
300 m line-spacing covering an area of approximately 249 km2. This survey used a larger
loop than previously in an attempt to remove noise that caused difficulties in interpretation of
a previous survey.
.
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Page 10-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
10 DRILLING Diamond drilling on the Wheeler River Property is the principal method of exploration and
delineation of uranium mineralization after initial geophysical surveys. Drilling can generally
be conducted year round on the Property. Drill holes on the Property are labelled with a
prefix of the Project name (WR) followed by the hole number.
Since 1979, a total of 641 diamond drill holes and 84 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes
totalling 302,127 m have been completed within the Property (Table 10-1) The following
sections provide details of the holes drilled on the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits.
TABLE 10-1 WHEELER RIVER PROPERTY DRILLING STATISTICS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Year Company # Diamond Drill
Holes (including wedge holes and re-starts)
# Rotary Drill Holes
Total Drilled (m)
1979 AGIP Canada Ltd. 6 0 2,111 1980 AGIP Canada Ltd. 6 0 1,968 1981 AGIP Canada Ltd. 14 0 5,352 1982 AGIP Canada Ltd. 13 0 4,974 1983 AGIP Canada Ltd. 9 0 2,255 1984 AGIP Canada Ltd. 13 0 2,986 1985 SMDC 13 0 3,395 1986 SMDC 11 0 4,174 1987 SMDC 12 23 6,362 1988 SMDC 12 0 5,882 1989 SMDC 9 0 4,617 1995 Cameco 4 0 1,890 1996 Cameco 5 0 2,544 1997 Cameco 7 0 3,218 1998 Cameco 7 0 3,074 1999 Cameco 3 0 1,263 2001 Cameco 2 0 1,213 2002 Cameco 4 0 2,099 2003 Cameco 4 61 3,470 2004 Cameco 1 0 494 2005 Denison Mines Inc. 12 0 4,837 2006 Denison Mines Inc. 27 0 10,514 2007 Denison Mines Corp. 18 0 6,147
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Page 10-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Year Company # Diamond Drill Holes (including
wedge holes and re-starts)
# Rotary Drill Holes
Total Drilled (m)
2008 Denison Mines Corp. 14 0 6,104 2009 Denison Mines Corp. 43 0 18,950 2010 Denison Mines Corp. 60 0 28,264 2011 Denison Mines Corp. 80 0 38,428 2012 Denison Mines Corp. 58 0 26,810 2013 Denison Mines Corp. 52 0 25,656 2014 Denison Mines Corp. 50 0 30,833 2015 Denison Mines Corp. 72 0 42,243 TOTAL 641 84 302,127
PHOENIX DEPOSIT EXPLORATION DRILLING During the summer of 2008, WR-249 was drilled on geophysics line 4300 to test resistivity
target “A”. WR-249 was spotted 90 m northwest of WR-190A, which had been lost in the
sandstone 34 m above the unconformity in 2003. The hole encountered strong
desilicification, silicification, hydrothermal hematite, druzy quartz and increased fracture
density, with progressively more intense alteration towards the unconformity, together with a
strong grey bleached zone consisting of extremely fine grained pyrite which provided a
strong visual contrast to bleached zones in other nearby holes. At the unconformity,
disseminated and massive uranium mineralization was present from 406.65 m to 409 m. The
assay grade was 1.06% U3O8 over 2.35 m. This was the highest grade intercept on the
Property to date. This hole was located seven kilometres northeast of the previous work in
the WR-204 area and, more significantly, was drilled on the hanging wall rather than the
footwall side of the quartzite ridge.
Target “B” was tested by WR-251, which was located 600 m along strike from WR-249. It
intersected similar alteration along with three mineralized zones occurring both at the
unconformity and in the basement. The best intersection graded 0.78% U3O8 over 2.25 m.
All 2008 follow-up drilling was located in the WR-251 area. Additional uranium mineralization
(1.4% U3O8 over 4.0 m and 1.75% U3O8 over 0.5 m) was intersected in WR-253, which was
drilled to test for mineralization 15 m to the southeast of WR-251.
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Page 10-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
All drill holes completed during the summer of 2008 intersected either uranium mineralization
or very strong alteration located in the hanging wall to the quartzite unit. This new discovery
was termed Phoenix.
During 2009, three drill programs consisting of a total of 43 diamond drill holes (19,006 m),
were carried out, each of which established significant milestones in the advancement of the
Property. During the winter program, the first indications of higher grade mineralization came
from hole WR-258, which returned 11.8% U3O8 over 5.5 m from a depth of 397 m. The
summer drill program continued to test the Phoenix discovery, with hole WR-273 returning a
value of 62.6% U3O8 over 6.0 m at a depth of 405 m. Mineralization was monomineralic
pitchblende with very low concentrations of accessory minerals and was reported to be
remarkably similar to the high-grade McArthur River P2 deposits. Most of the mineralization
occurs as a horizontal sheet at the base of the Athabasca sandstone proximal to where a
graphitic pelite unit in the basement intersects the unconformity. In addition, the alteration
changes to the northeast with intense and strong basement bleaching becoming more
prominent, and the strongest graphitic faulting observed. More significantly, the new
mineralized zone returned the highest grades intersected in more than 40 years of
continuous exploration on the Property.
A further drill program in the fall of 2009 established continuity of the high-grade portion of
the mineralized zone and extended the overall zone as a possibly continuous unit for a strike
length of greater than one kilometre.
During 2010, 62 diamond drill holes totalling 28,362.3 m were carried out on two claims
along the Phoenix deposit trend. Of the 62 drill holes, 59 totalling 27,853.25 m were
completed to the desired depth and three were lost or abandoned due to poor ground
conditions or excessive deviation. The three lost holes were re-drilled and successfully
completed to the desired depth. Twenty-seven holes were drilled on claim S-98341 during
two drill seasons from January to April and June to August. Thirty-five holes were drilled on
claim S-97909 during two drill seasons from January to April and June to August. The two-
phase drilling program was carried out during the periods of January to April 2010 and June
to August 2010.
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Page 10-4 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
During 2011, a two-phase drilling program of 80 diamond drill holes totalling 38,426.6 m was
carried out on mineral dispositions S-97908, S-97909, and S-98341. Of the 80 drill holes
completed, 77 were successfully completed to design depth.
During 2012, Denison completed 51 diamond drill holes totalling 23,073 m on the Phoenix
deposit during two drilling campaigns.
In 2013, 30 diamond drill holes totaling 13,797 m were carried out on mineral dispositions
across the Property of which 14 were completed as infill delineation drilling on Phoenix zone
A.
In 2014, an additional 11 diamond drill holes were completed on Phoenix zone A to extend
higher grade portions of the deposit.
Since 2008, 263 drill holes totalling 123,749 m of drilling have delineated the Phoenix deposit
(Figure 10-1, Table 10-2). Well-established drilling industry practices were used in the
drilling programs.
TABLE 10-2 PHOENIX DRILLING STATISTICS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Deposit Year Company # Holes Total Drilled (m) Phoenix 2008 Denison 14 6,499
2009 Denison 31 14,549 2010 Denison 55 25,949 2011 Denison 71 34,436 2012 Denison 51 23,073 2013 Denison 25 12,083 2014 Denison 10 4,298 2015 Denison 6 2,862
Phoenix Total 263 123,749
Target # Holes Total Drilled (m) Zone A 137 62,678 Zone B 55 25,347 Zone C 24 10,438 Zone D 27 15,214 North Target 18 9,482 East Target 2 591
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Page 10-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
To date, the Phoenix deposit area has been systematically drill tested over approximately
one kilometre of strike length at a nominal 25 m to 50 m section spacing (Figure 10-1).
Delineation diamond drilling at Phoenix was primarily done with NQ sized core (47.6 mm
diameter) in holes WR-249 through WR-275 and HQ sized core (63.5 mm diameter) reducing
down to NQ at 350 m in holes WR-276 through WR-561A, with most holes successfully
penetrating into the basement. In general, drilling in the higher grade areas of the Phoenix
deposit has been conducted on a nominal drill hole grid spacing of 25 m northeast-southwest
by 10 m northwest-southeast. Some additional infill holes were drilled primarily to test the
spatial continuity of the mineralization. The most notable results from drilling to date are the
intersections of 6.0 m of 62.6% U3O8 in hole WR-273, 3.5 m of 58.2% U3O8 in hole WR-305,
8.4 m of 38.4% U3O8 in hole WR-401, and 10.5 m of 50.1% U3O8 in hole WR-525. The bulk
of the flat lying high-grade mineralization is positioned at and sub-parallel to the
unconformity.
All holes were logged for lithology, structure, alteration, mineralization, and geotechnical
characteristics. Data were entered into DHLogger software on laptops in the field. The
DHLogger data were transferred into a Fusion database. All drill hole data were validated
throughout the drilling program and as an integral component of the current recent resource
estimation work. Hard copies of drill logs are stored at site.
ZONE A
ZONE B1
ZONE B2
Quartzite
Garnetiferous Pelite
Graphitic Pelite
Pelite
Semipelite
WS Thrust Fault w /cross structure
Phoenix Deposit
N
0 50
Metres
100 150 200
UTM Projection WGS 84-13NNovember 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix DepositDrill Hole Location Map
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 10-1
16
0-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 10-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
GRYPHON DEPOSIT EXPLORATION DRILLING The first exploration drilling in the Gryphon area began in 1988 and continued intermittently
through 2013.
In 2013, Denison drilled two holes, WR-507D1 and WR-509. WR-507D1 was drilled
approximately 40 m up dip on section northwest of hole ZK-23, to test for more favourable
geology (Figure 10-2). No significant mineralization was intersected at the unconformity or in
the basement, but similar lithological units and structure were intersected which hosted
mineralization in the ZK-02/ZK-04/ZK-06 drill fence. WR-509 was drilled approximately 100
m grid west of the ZK-02/ZK-04/ZK-06 drill fence within the K1a conductive corridor to test for
unconformity mineralization. No significant unconformity alteration or mineralization was
intersected, however, there was some weak basement mineralization intersected over
approximately 0.5 m from 634.2 m within a pelitic lens in a large pegmatite body. No further
follow-up was recommended for either hole at this time.
In 2014, Denison completed a drilling campaign of 25 holes for 18,546 m which included the
Gryphon discovery hole WR-556. WR-556 was drilled on the ZK-02/ZK-04/ZK-06 fence to
test two targets:
1. The unconformity down-dip of a sandstone structure intersected in ZK-06, and
2. The down-dip projection of basement hosted mineralization intersected in ZK-04 and ZK-06.
No unconformity mineralization was intersected, but high grade mineralization was
intersected at the contact of a graphitic pelite and a quartzite unit down dip from hole ZK-06.
The mineralization graded 15.3% U3O8 over 4.0 m from 697.5 m (approximately 207 m below
the unconformity). This mineralization was termed the Upper Lens.
Legend:
Pelites
Quartzite
Pegmatite
Drill Hole Collar
Property BoundaryGraphitic Pelite
Granite
N
November 2015 Source: Denison Mines Corp., 2015.
Wheeler River Property
Gryphon Deposit2013 Drill Hole Location Map
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 10-2
10-8
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Page 10-9 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
In 2014, Denison also drilled holes WR-558 and WR-560. WR-558 was drilled to target the
contact of the unconformity with the western most graphitic unit northwest of ZK-02. While
no unconformity mineralization was encountered, basement mineralization was intersected in
a pegmatite unit approximately 54 m below the unconformity. The mineralization graded
7.3% U3O8 over 0.5 m from 611.7 m and is considered peripheral mineralization to the
Gryphon Upper Lens. WR-560 was drilled 35 m up dip of the WR-556 intersection. WR-560
intersected high grade mineralization at a lower stratigraphic position to that found in WR-
556 and was termed the Lower Lens. The WR-560 mineralization graded 21.2% U3O8 over
4.5 m from 759 m (approximately 234 m below the unconformity).
Since the discovery of Gryphon, definition drilling has continued on both the Upper Lens and
Lower Lens. The Upper Lens has been defined as a body of multiple stacked high grade
lenses that plunge toward the northeast, approximately 80 m to 370 m below the sub-
Athabasca unconformity. Denison followed up the 2014 drilling with 2015 winter and
summer drilling campaigns with an additional 37 holes, totalling 21,591 m. As of September
17, 2015, the effective date of the current Mineral Resource estimate, Denison and
predecessor companies have drilled a total of 69 holes totalling 44,083 m over the Gryphon
deposit. Table 10-3 lists the holes by drilling program.
TABLE 10-3 GRYPHON DRILLING STATISTICS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Deposit Year Company # Holes Total Drilled (m) Gryphon 1988 SMDC 3 1,848
2001 Cameco 1 584 2013 Denison 3 1,515 2014 Denison 25 18,546 2015 Denison 37 21,591
Gryphon Total 69 44,083
Diamond drilling at Gryphon was primarily done with NQ sized core (47.6 mm diameter) with
68 of 76 holes angled between 67° to 79° to the northwest with the remaining holes drilled
vertically.
Highlights from the Gryphon drilling program are listed in Table 10-4.
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Page 10-10 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 10-4 GRYPHON DEPOSIT MINERAL INTERSECTIONS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Hole no. From (m) To (m) Thick (m) % U3O8 GT WR-560 759.0 763.5 4.5 21.21 95.46 WR-556 697.5 701.5 4.0 15.33 61.33
WR-573D1 548.5 551.0 2.5 22.16 55.39 WR-569A 680.0 683.5 3.5 13.16 46.07 WR-604 779.0 784.5 5.5 6.34 34.86
WR-584B 641.6 646.1 4.5 7.50 33.75 WR-569A 702.5 705.5 3.0 10.27 30.82 WR-574 696.5 698.5 2.0 14.60 29.19 WR-571 757.5 760.0 2.5 8.79 21.98
WR-571D2 512.0 517.5 5.5 3.95 21.72 Notes:
1. Intersection interval is composited at cut-off grade of 1.0% U3O8 and minimum thickness of 1 m.
DRILL HOLE SURVEYING The collar locations of drill holes are spotted on a grid established in the field, and collar sites
are surveyed by differential base station GPS using the NAD83 UTM zone 13N reference
datum. The drill holes have a concise naming convention with the prefix “WR” denoting
“Wheeler River”” followed by the number of the drill hole. In general, most of the drilling was
completed on northwest-southeast oriented profiles spaced approximately 50 m apart.
The trajectory of all drill holes is determined with a Reflex instrument in single point mode,
which measures the dip and azimuth at 50 m intervals down the hole with an initial test taken
six metres below the casing and a final measurement at the bottom of the hole. All
mineralized and non-mineralized holes within the Phoenix deposit are cemented from
approximately 25 m below the mineralized zone to approximately 25 m above the zone. All
mineralized and non-mineralized holes within the Gryphon deposit are cemented for the
entire basement column to approximately 25 m above the unconformity.
RADIOMETRIC LOGGING OF DRILL HOLES All drill holes on the Property are logged with a radiometric probe to measure the natural
gamma radiation, from which an indirect estimate of uranium content can be made. Most of
the U3O8 grade data (76%) used for the Phoenix Mineral Resource estimate are obtained
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Page 10-11 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
from chemical assays of the rock. The remainder of the data are derived from radiometric
probe results, typically when poor drill core recovery prevents representative sampling for
chemical assays. For the Gryphon Mineral Resource estimate, 100% of the U3O8 grade data
are obtained from chemical assay of the rock.
RADIOMETRIC PROBING Probing with a Mount Sopris gamma logging unit employing a triple gamma probe (2GHF-
1000) was completed systematically on every drill hole. The probe measures natural gamma
radiation using three different detectors: one 0.5 in. by 1.5 in. sodium iodide (NaI) crystal
assembly and two Geiger Mueller (G-M) tubes installed above the NaI detector. These G-M
tubes have been used successfully to determine grade in very high concentrations of U3O8.
By utilizing three different detector sensitivities (the sensitivity of the detectors is very
different from one detector to another), these probes can be used in both exploration and
development projects across a wide spectrum of uranium grades. Accurate concentrations
can be measured in uranium grades ranging from less than 0.1% to as high as 80% U3O8.
Data are logged from all three detectors at a speed of 10 m/min down hole and 15 m/min up
hole through the drill rods.
The radiometric or gamma probe measures gamma radiation which is emitted during the
natural radioactive decay of uranium (U) and variations in the natural radioactivity originating
from changes in concentrations of the trace element thorium (Th) as well as changes in
concentration of the major rock forming element potassium (K).
Potassium decays into two stable isotopes (argon and calcium) which are no longer
radioactive, and emits gamma rays with energies of 1.46 MeV. Uranium and thorium,
however, decay into daughter products which are unstable (i.e., radioactive). The decay of
uranium forms a series of about a dozen radioactive elements in nature which finally decay
to a stable isotope of lead. The decay of thorium forms a similar series of radioelements. As
each radioelement in the series decays, it is accompanied by emissions of alpha or beta
particles or gamma rays. The gamma rays have specific energies associated with the
decaying radionuclide. The most prominent of the gamma rays in the uranium series
originate from decay of 214Bi (bismuth 214), and in the thorium series from decay of 208Tl
(thallium 208).
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Page 10-12 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
The natural gamma measurement is made when a detector emits a pulse of light when
struck by a gamma ray. This pulse of light is amplified by a photomultiplier tube, which
outputs a current pulse which is accumulated and reported as “counts per second”, or “cps”.
The gamma probe is lowered to the bottom of a drill hole and data are recorded as the tool
travels to the bottom and then is pulled back up to the surface. The current pulse is carried
up a conductive cable and processed by a logging system computer which stores the raw
gamma cps data.
Since the concentrations of these naturally occurring radioelements vary between different
rock types, natural gamma ray logging provides an important tool for lithologic mapping and
stratigraphic correlation. For example, in sedimentary rocks, sandstones can be easily
distinguished from shales due to the low potassium content of the sandstones compared to
the shales. The greatest value of the gamma ray log in uranium exploration, however, is in
determining equivalent uranium grade.
The basis of the indirect uranium grade calculation (referred to as "eU3O8" for "equivalent
U3O8") is the sensitivity of the detector used in the probe which is the ratio of cps to known
uranium grade and is referred to as the probe calibration factor. Each detector’s sensitivity is
measured when it is first manufactured and is also periodically checked throughout the
operating life of each probe against a known set of standard "test pits," with various known
grades of uranium mineralization or through empirical calculations. Application of the
calibration factor, along with other probe correction factors, allows for immediate grade
estimation in the field as each drill hole is logged.
Downhole total gamma data are subjected to a complex set of mathematical equations,
taking into account the specific parameters of the probe used, speed of logging, size of bore
hole, drilling fluids, and presence or absence of any type of drill hole casing. The result is an
indirect measurement of uranium content within the sphere of measurement of the gamma
detector. A Denison in-house computer program known as GAMLOG converts the
measured counts per second of the gamma rays into 10 cm increments of equivalent percent
U3O8 (%eU3O8). GAMLOG is based on the Scott’s Algorithm developed by James Scott of
the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1962 and is widely used in the industry.
The conversion coefficients for conversion of probe counts per second to %eU3O8 equivalent
uranium grades are based on the calibration results obtained at the Saskatchewan Research
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Page 10-13 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Council (SRC) uranium calibration pits (sodium iodide crystal) and empirical values
developed in-house (Sweet and Petrie 2010) for the triple-gamma probe (Figure 10-3).
SRC downhole probe calibration facilities are located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The
calibration facilities test pits consist of four variably mineralized holes, each approximately
four metres thick. The gamma probes are calibrated a minimum of two times per year,
usually before and after both the winter and summer field seasons.
Drilling procedures, including collar surveying, downhole Reflex surveying, and radiometric
probing are standard industry practice.
FIGURE 10-3 CALIBRATION CURVE FOR GEIGER-MUELLER SN 3818 PROBE
SAMPLING METHOD AND APPROACH
DRILL CORE HANDLING AND LOGGING PROCEDURES At each drill site, core is removed from the core tube by the drill contractors and placed
directly into three row NQ wooden core boxes with standard 1.5 m length (4.5 m total) or two
row HQ wooden boxes with standard 1.5 m (3.0 m total). Individual drill runs are identified
55 227105066140142610
1,6102,225
2,5002,710
2,800
3,1903,430
3,327
2,375
3,481
65140
1,590
564153
2,738 2,9752,214
3,160
3,475
3,475
3,450
2,700
3,741
2,832
1,659
3,535
2,865
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Gra
de %
eU
3O8
Total Counts
Synthetic Total Count from SN3688-3818-GM-12 K-factor (%U3O8) = 60*e-5; Dead Time = 200 microseconds
with Sampled Assay Results to February 2012vs Grade% U3O8
SN3818 Assay
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Page 10-14 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
with small wooden blocks, onto which the depth in metres is recorded. Diamond drill core is
transported at the end of each drill shift to an enclosed core handling facility at Denison’s
Wheeler River camp. The core handling procedures at the drill site are industry standard.
Drill holes are logged at the Wheeler River camp core logging facilities by Denison
personnel.
Before the core is split for assay, the core is photographed, descriptively logged, measured
for structures, surveyed with a scintillometer, and marked for sampling. Sampling of the
holes for assay is guided by the observed geology, radiometric logs, and readings from a
hand-held scintillometer.
The general concept behind the scintillometer is similar to the gamma probe except the
radiometric pulses are displayed on a scale on the instrument and the respective count rates
are recorded manually by the technician logging the core or chips. The hand-held
scintillometer provides quantitative data only and cannot be used to calculate uranium
grades; however, it does allow the geologist to identify uranium mineralization in the core and
to select intervals for geochemical sampling, as described below.
Scintillometer readings are taken throughout the hole as part of the logging process, usually
over three metre intervals, and are averaged for the interval. In mineralized zones, where
scintillometer readings are above five times background (approximately 500 cps depending
on the scintillometer being used), readings are recorded over 10 cm intervals and tied to the
run interval blocks. The scintillometer profile is then plotted on strip logs to compare and
adjust the depth of the downhole gamma logs. Core trays are marked with aluminum tags as
well as felt marker.
DRILL CORE SAMPLING ASSAY SAMPLING Denison submits assay samples for geochemical analysis for all the cored sections through
mineralized intervals, where core recovery permits. All mineralized core is measured with
the scintillometer described above by removing each piece of drill core from the ambient
background, noting the most pertinent reproducible result in counts per second, and carefully
returning it to its correct place in the core box. Any core registering over 500 cps is flagged
for splitting and sent to the laboratory for assay. Early drill holes were sampled using
variable intervals (0.2 m to 1.0 m); after drill hole WR-253, holes were sampled using 0.5 m
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Page 10-15 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
lengths. Barren samples are taken to flank both ends of mineralized intersections, with flank
sample lengths at least 0.5 m on either end, which, however, may be significantly more in
areas with strong mineralization.
All core samples are split with a hand splitter according to the sample intervals marked on
the core. One-half of the core is returned to the core box for future reference and the other
half is bagged, tagged, and sealed in a plastic bag. Bags of mineralized samples are sealed
for shipping in metal or plastic pails depending on the radioactivity level. Samples collected
on 0.5 m spacing through the mineralized zone are analyzed using inductively coupled
plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) (Section 11).
OTHER SAMPLING Three other types of drill core samples are collected as follows:
1) Composite geochemical samples are collected over approximately 10 m intervals inthe upper Athabasca sandstone and in fresh lithologies beneath the unconformity(basement) and over five metre intervals in the basal sandstone and alteredbasement units. The samples consist of one to two centimetre disks of core collectedat the top or bottom of each row of core in the box over the specified interval. Care istaken not to cross lithological contacts or stratigraphic boundaries.
2) Representative/systematic core disks (one to five centimetres in width) are collectedat regular five to ten metre intervals throughout the entire length of core untilbasement lithologies become unaltered. These samples are analyzed for clayminerals using reflectance spectroscopy.
3) Select “spot” samples are collected from significant geological features (i.e.,radiometric anomalies, structure, alteration etc). Core disks one to two centimetrethick are collected for reflectance spectroscopy and split core samples, over thedesired interval, are sent for geochemical analysis. Ten centimetre wide coresamples may also be collected for density measurement.
These sampling types and approaches are typical of uranium exploration and definition
drilling programs in the Athabasca Basin. The drill core handling and sampling protocols are
industry standard.
CORE RECOVERY AND USE OF PROBE DATA At Phoenix, the mineralized zones (sandstones or basement) are moderately to strongly
altered, and occasionally disrupted by fault breccias. In places, the core can be broken and
blocky, however, recovery is generally good with an overall average of 89.65%. Local
intervals of up to five metres with less than 80% recovery have been encountered due to
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Page 10-16 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
washouts during the drilling process. Where 80% or less of a composited interval is
recovered during drilling (>20% core loss), or where no geochemical sampling has occurred
across a mineralized interval, uranium grade determination has been supplemented by
radiometric probe data. Radiometric probe data accounts for approximately 23% of the drill
holes used for the Mineral Resource estimate at Phoenix. There are 1,708 U3O8 assay
records totalling 848 m in the Phoenix deposit database. Of these, 1,464 U3O8 assay
records totalling 726 m are in zone A and 244 U3O8 assay records totalling 122 m are in zone
B.
Core recovery at Gryphon is excellent. Of the 69 drill holes drilled at Gryphon, 19 drill holes
contained only radiometric data and were not sampled for assay, 36 drill holes contained
both radiometric and assays, and 14 drill holes did not have any grade data. In total there
were 55 drill holes used to interpret the mineralized domains, but only the 36 holes
containing assays were used for Mineral Resource estimate. There are 1,019 U3O8 assay
records totalling 510 m in the Gryphon deposit database
RPA is not aware of any drilling, sampling, or recovery factors that could materially impact
the accuracy and reliability of the results.
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Page 11-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY As described in Section 10 Drilling, core from the Property is photographed, logged, marked
for sampling, split, bagged, and sealed for shipment by Denison personnel at the Wheeler
River field logging facility. All samples for assay or geochemical analyses are sent to the
Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan. Samples for reflectance clay analyses have been analyzed using a PIMA
spectrometer or an ArcSpectro FT-NIR ROCKET spectrometer and sent to Rekasa Rocks
Inc. (Rekasa) or AusSpec International Ltd. (AusSpec), respectively, for interpretation. All
samples for geochemical or clay analyses are shipped to Saskatoon by airfreight or ground
transport. All samples for U3O8 assays are transported by land to the SRC laboratory by
Denison personnel. A sample transmittal form is prepared that identifies each batch of
samples. SRC performs sample preparation on all samples submitted. There is no sample
preparation, apart from drying, involved for the samples sent for clay analyses.
GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLE PREPARATION PROCEDURES
SAMPLE RECEIVING Samples are received at the SRC laboratory as either dangerous goods (qualified Transport
of Dangerous Goods (TDG) personnel required) or as exclusive use only samples (no
radioactivity documentation attached). On arrival, samples are assigned an SRC group
number and are entered into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
All received sample information is verified by sample receiving personnel: sample numbers,
number of pails, sample type/matrix, condition of samples, request for analysis, etc. The
samples are then sorted by radioactivity level. A sample receipt and sample list is then
generated and e-mailed to the appropriate authorized personnel at Denison. Denison is
notified if there are any discrepancies between the paperwork and samples received.
SAMPLE SORTING To ensure that there is no cross contamination between sandstone and basement, non-
mineralized, low level, and high-level mineralized samples, they are sorted by their matrix
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Page 11-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
and radioactivity level. Samples are firstly sorted in their group into matrix type (sandstone
and basement/mineralized).
The samples are then checked for their radioactivity levels. Using a Radioactivity Detector
System, the samples are classified into one of the following levels:
• “Red Line” (minimal radioactivity) <500 cps
• “1 Dot” 500 – 1,999 cps
• “2 Dots” 2000 – 2,999 cps
• “3 Dots” 3000 – 3,999 cps
• “4 Dots” 4000 – 4,999 cps
• “UR” (unreadable) >5,000 cps
The samples are then sorted into ascending sample numerical order and transferred to their
matrix designated drying oven.
SAMPLE PREPARATION After the drying process is complete, “Red line” and “1 Dot” samples are sent for further
processing (crushing and grinding) in the main SRC laboratory. All radioactive samples at “2
Dots” or higher are sent to a secure radioactive facility at SRC for the same sample
preparation. Plastic snap top vials are labelled according to sample numbers and sent with
the samples to the appropriate crushing room. All highly radioactive materials are kept in a
radioactive bunker until they can be transported by TDG trained individuals to the
radioactivity facility for processing.
Rock samples are jaw crushed to 60% passing -2 mm. Samples are placed into the crusher
(one at a time) and the crushed material is put through a splitter. The operator ensures that
the distribution of the material is even, so there is no bias in the sampling. One portion of the
material is placed into the plastic snap top vial and the other is put in the sample bag (reject).
The first sample from each group is checked for crushing efficiency by screening the vial of
rock through a 2 mm screen. A calculation is then carried out to ensure that 60% of the
material is -2 mm. If the quality control (QC) check fails, the crushing is redone and checked
for crushing efficiency; if it still fails, the QC department is notified and corrective action is
taken.
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Page 11-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
The crusher, crusher catch pan, splitter, and splitter catch pan are cleaned between each
sample using compressed air.
The reject material is returned to its original sample bag and archived in a plastic pail with the
appropriate group number marked on the outside of the pail. The vials of material are then
sent to grinding; each vial of material is placed in pots (six pots per grind) and ground for two
minutes. The material is then returned to the vials. The operator shakes the vial to check
the fineness of the material by looking for visible grains and listening for rattling. The sample
is then screened through a 106 µm sieve, using water. The sample is then dried and
weighed; to pass the grinding efficiency QC, there must be over 90% of the material at -106
µm. The material is then transferred to a labelled plastic snap top vial.
The pots are cleaned out with silica sand and blown out with compressed air at the start of
each group. In the radioactive facility, the pots are cleaned with water. Once sample pulps
are generated, they are returned to the main laboratory to be chemically processed prior to
analysis. All containers are identified with sample information and their radioactivity status at
all times. When the preparation is completed, the radioactive pulps are returned to a secure
radioactive bunker, until they can be transported back to the radioactive facility. All rejected
sample material not involved in the grinding process is returned to the original sample
container. All highly radioactive materials are stored in secure radioactive designated areas.
Sample preparation methods for the samples used in the Gryphon and Phoenix Mineral
Resource estimates meet or exceed industry standards.
ANALYTICAL METHODS All assay core samples from Gryphon and Phoenix were analyzed by the ICP1 package
offered by SRC. Composite geochemical samples, up to and including WR-269, were also
analyzed using this method after which the method was changed to ICP-MS1 because of a
lower detection limit.
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METHOD: ICP1-URANIUM MULTI-ELEMENT EXPLORATION ANALYSIS BY ICP-OES Method Summary: In ICP-OES analysis, the atomized sample material is ionized and the
ions then emit light (photons) of a characteristic wavelength for each element, which is
recorded by optical spectrometers. Calibrations against standard materials allow this
technique to provide a quantitative geochemical analysis.
The analytical package includes 62 analytes (46 total digestion, 16 partial digestion), with
nine analytes being analyzed for both partial and total digestions (Ag, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, U,
V, and Zn) plus boron. These samples are also sometimes analyzed for Au by fire assay.
Partial Digestion: For partial digestion analysis, samples were crushed to 60% -2 mm and
a 100 g to 200 g sub-sample was split out using a riffler. The sub-sample pulverized to 90%
-106 µm using a standard puck and ring grinding mill. The sample was then transferred to a
plastic snap top vial. An aliquot of pulp is digested in a digestion tube in a mixture of
HNO3:HCl, in a hot water bath for approximately one hour, then diluted to 15 mL using de-
ionized water. The samples were then analyzed using a Perkin Elmer ICP-OES instrument
(models DV4300 or DV5300)
Total Digestion: An aliquot of pulp is digested to dryness in a hot block digestor system
using a mixture of concentrated HF:HNO3:HClO4. The residue is dissolved in 15 mL of dilute
HNO3 and analyzed using the same instrument(s) as above.
METHOD: ICPMS1 - THE MULTI-ELEMENT DETERMINATION BY ICP-MS Method Summary: The analytical package includes the analysis of 47 elements and oxides
using a three acid (HF/HNO3/HClO4) “total” digestion and a suite of 42 elements using a two
acid (HNO3/HCl) “partial” digestion. Analysis of the lead isotopes (204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, and 208Pb) are also included in the package. Boron is determined by ICP-OES analysis after
fusion with NaO2/NaCO3. PerkinElmer instruments (models Optima 300DV, Optima 4300DV,
and Optima 5300DV) are currently in use. The samples generally analyzed by this package
are non-radioactive, non-mineralized sandstones and basement rocks with low
concentrations of uranium (<100 ppm).
Partial Digestion: An aliquot of pulp is digested in a mixture of ultra-pure concentrated nitric
and hydrochloric acids (HNO3:HCl) in a digestion tube in a hot water bath then diluted to 15
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Page 11-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
mL using de-ionized water prior to analysis. As, Ge, Hg, Sb, Se and Te are subject to partial
digestion only, as these elements are not suited to total digestion analysis. The ICP-MS
instruments used are PerkinElmer Elan DRC II.
Total Digestion: An aliquot of pulp is digested to dryness in a hot block digestor system
using a mixture of ultra-pure concentrated acids HF:HNO3:HClO4. The residue is dissolved in
15 mL of 5% HNO3 and made to volume using de-ionized water prior to analysis.
METHOD: U3O8 WT% ASSAY - THE DETERMINATION OF U3O8 WT% IN SOLID SAMPLES BY ICP-OES Method Summary: When ICP1 U partial values are ≥1,000 ppm, sample pulps are re-
assayed for U3O8 using SRC's ISO/IEC 17025:2005-accredited U3O8 (wt%) method. In the
case of uranium assay by ICP-OES, a pulp is already generated from the first phase of
preparation and assaying (discussed above).
Aqua Regia Digestion: An aliquot of sample pulp is digested in a 100 mL volumetric flask in
a mixture of 3:1 HCl:HNO3, on a hot plate for approximately one hour, then diluted to volume
using de-ionized water. Samples are diluted prior to analysis by ICP-OES.
Instrument Analysis: Instruments in the analysis are calibrated using certified commercial
solutions. The instruments used were PerkinElmer Optima 300DV, Optima 4300DV, or
Optima 5300DV.
Detection Limits: 0.001% U3O8
METHOD: U3O8 WT% ASSAY - THE DETERMINATION OF U3O8 WT% IN SOLID SAMPLES BY DELAYED NEUTRON COUNTING SRC in 2009 documented the method summary for the Delayed Neutron Counting (DNC)
technique as follows. Samples previously prepared as pulps for ICP total digestion are used
for the DNC analysis. The pulps are irradiated in a Slowpoke 2 nuclear reactor for a given
period of time. After irradiation, the samples are pneumatically transferred to a counting
system equipped with six helium-3 detectors. After a suitable delay period, neutrons
emanating from the sample are counted. The proportion of delayed neutrons emitted is
related to the uranium concentration. For low concentrations of uranium, a minimum of one
gram of sample is preferred, and larger sample sizes (two to five grams) will improve
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Page 11-6 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
precision. Several blanks and certified uranium standards are analyzed to establish the
instrument calibration. In addition, control samples are analyzed with each batch of samples
to monitor the stability of the calibration. At least one in every ten samples is analyzed in
duplicate. The results of the instrument calibration, blanks, control samples, and duplicates
must be within specified limits otherwise corrective action is required.
Analysis for uranium by DNC incorporates four separate flux/site conditions of varying
sensitivity to produce an effective range of analysis from zero to 150,000 µg U per capsule
(samples of up to 90% U can be analyzed by weighing a fraction of a gram to ensure that
there is no more than 150,000 µg U in the capsule). Each condition is calibrated using
between three and seven reference materials. For each condition, one of these materials is
designated as a calibration check sample. As well, there is an independent control sample
for each condition.
DRILL CORE BULK DENSITY ANALYSIS Drill core samples collected for bulk density measurements were sent to SRC. Samples
were first weighed as received and then submerged in de-ionized water and re-weighed.
The samples were then dried until a constant weight was obtained. The sample was then
coated with an impermeable layer of wax and weighed again while submersed in de-ionized
water. Weights were entered into a database and the bulk density of each sample was
calculated. Water temperature at the time of weighing was also recorded and used in the
bulk density calculation.
REFLECTANCE CLAY ANALYSES Prior to 2015, core chip samples for clay analysis were analyzed using a PIMA II
spectrometer. This included all analyses performed on samples from the Phoenix deposit.
Short wave infrared (SWIR) spectra were sent to Rekasa, a private facility in Saskatoon, for
interpretation. Samples were air or oven dried prior to analysis in order to remove any
excess moisture. Reflective spectra for the various clay minerals present in the sample were
compared to the spectral results from Athabasca samples for which the clay mineral
proportions have been determined in order to obtain a semi-quantitative clay estimate for
each sample.
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Page 11-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
In 2015, core chip samples for clay reflectance analysis were analyzed using an ArcSpectro
FT-NIR (Fourier transform near-infrared) ROCKET spectrometer. This included all analyses
performed on samples from the Gryphon deposit. Sample collection and preparation is
identical to procedures used for PIMA analysis. The transmission spectra of the reflectance
samples were sent to AusSpec, based in New Zealand. The spectra are analyzed using an
aiSIRIS automated spectral interpretation system. The mineral assemblage for each sample
is listed in order of spectral dominance and represents the spectral contribution of the
mineral to the spectrum. The results compared well with previous PIMA spectra
interpretations undertaken by Rekasa.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) programs provide confidence in the geochemical
results and help ensure that the database is reliable to estimate Mineral Resources. Denison
has developed and documented several QA/QC procedures and protocols for all exploration
projects which include the following components:
1) Determination of precision – achieved by regular insertion of duplicates for eachstage of the process where a sample is taken or split;
2) Determination of accuracy – achieved by regular insertion of standards ormaterials of known composition;
3) Checks for contamination – achieved by insertion of blanks.
RPA reviewed Denison’s procedures and protocols and considers them to be reasonable
and acceptable.
SAMPLE STANDARDS, BLANKS AND FIELD DUPLICATES URANIUM ASSAY STANDARDS Analytical standards are used to monitor analytical precision and accuracy, and field
standards are used as an independent monitor of laboratory performance. Six uranium
assay standards have been prepared for use in monitoring the accuracy of uranium assays
received from the laboratory. Due to the radioactive nature of the standard material,
insertion of the standard materials is preferable at SRC instead of in the field. During sample
processing, the appropriate standard grade is determined, and an aliquot of the appropriate
standard is inserted into the analytical stream for each batch of materials assayed.
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Page 11-8 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Denison uses standards provided by its Wheeler River Joint Venture partner Cameco for
uranium assays. Cameco standards are added to the sample groups by SRC personnel,
using the standards appropriate for each group. As well, for each assay group, an aliquot of
Cameco’s blank material is also included in the sample run. In a run of forty samples, at
least one will consist of a Cameco standard and one will consist of a Cameco blank.
Accuracy of the analyses and values obtained relative to the standard values, based on the
analytical results of the six reference standards used, is acceptable for Mineral Resource
estimates. Chronological plots for the six standards are shown in Figures 11-1 to 11-6 with
upper limit (UL) and lower limit (LL) being equal to the mean plus or minus three standard
deviations respectively. Note in Figures 11-1 and 11-6 that the standards were changed
during 2011.
FIGURE 11-1 USTD1 ANALYSES
0.25
0.255
0.26
0.265
0.27
0.275
0.28
0.285
31/0
7/20
0901
/11/
2010
13/0
1/20
1005
/06/
2010
19/0
7/20
1019
/08/
2010
09/0
3/20
1009
/09/
2010
09/0
9/20
1021
/10/
2010
21/0
4/20
1124
/08/
2011
10/0
7/20
1116
/11/
2011
12/0
7/20
1119
/04/
2012
22/0
5/20
1208
/03/
2012
28/0
3/20
1328
/08/
2013
25/0
3/20
1415
/04/
2014
16/0
5/20
1406
/11/
2014
27/0
8/20
1421
/11/
2014
25/0
5/20
1519
/08/
2015
24/0
9/20
15
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD1 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD1 Average USTD1_STD_UL USTD1_STD_LL USTD1 Assay
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Page 11-9 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-2 USTD2 ANALYSES
FIGURE 11-3 USTD3 ANALYSES
0.780.8
0.820.840.860.88
0.90.920.94
28/0
7/20
0925
/11/
2009
14/0
1/20
1005
/06/
2010
09/0
9/20
1013
/10/
2010
14/0
4/20
1117
/08/
2011
10/0
7/20
1116
/11/
2011
17/1
1/20
1104
/05/
2012
22/0
5/20
1208
/03/
2012
26/0
4/20
1328
/08/
2013
25/0
3/20
1415
/04/
2014
30/0
5/20
1409
/02/
2014
21/1
1/20
1425
/05/
2015
27/0
8/20
1524
/09/
2015
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD2 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD2 Average USTD2_STD_UL USTD2_STD_LL USTD2 Assay
2.752.8
2.852.9
2.953
3.053.1
3.153.2
3.25
07/0
7/20
09
31/0
7/20
09
14/0
1/20
10
30/0
4/20
10
05/0
6/20
10
19/0
8/20
10
09/0
3/20
10
21/1
0/20
10
11/0
3/20
10
05/0
2/20
11
24/0
8/20
11
10/0
7/20
11
16/1
1/20
11
24/1
1/20
11
23/0
3/20
12
04/0
5/20
12
27/0
4/20
12
16/0
8/20
12
09/0
7/20
12
30/0
5/20
14
27/0
8/20
14
21/1
1/20
14
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD3 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD3 Average USTD3_STD_UL USTD3_STD_LL USTD3 Assay
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Page 11-10 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-4 USTD4 ANALYSES
FIGURE 11-5 USTD5 ANALYSES
5.75.85.9
66.16.26.36.46.56.6
07/0
7/20
09
13/0
7/20
09
30/0
4/20
10
19/0
7/20
10
11/0
3/20
10
01/0
6/20
12
26/0
4/20
13
28/0
8/20
13
25/0
9/20
13
15/1
0/20
13
25/0
3/20
14
04/1
0/20
14
15/0
4/20
14
15/0
4/20
14
17/0
4/20
14
22/0
4/20
14
05/1
2/20
14
09/0
2/20
14
03/0
9/20
15
26/0
5/20
15
26/0
5/20
15
27/0
8/20
15
29/0
9/20
15
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD4 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD4 Average USTD4_STD_UL USTD4_STD_LL USTD4 Assay
10.410.610.8
1111.211.411.611.8
12
01/1
1/20
10
05/0
6/20
10
20/0
8/20
10
09/0
3/20
10
09/0
9/20
10
21/1
0/20
10
28/0
4/20
11
10/0
7/20
11
13/1
0/20
11
16/1
1/20
11
24/1
1/20
11
26/0
4/20
12
20/0
9/20
12
30/0
9/20
13
04/0
9/20
14
17/0
4/20
14
27/0
5/20
14
20/0
8/20
14
24/1
0/20
14
25/0
5/20
15
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD5 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD5 Average USTD5_STD_UL USTD5_STD_LL USTD5 Assay
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Page 11-11 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-6 USTD6 ANALYSES
BLANKS Denison employs a lithological blank composed of quartzite to monitor the potential for
contamination during sampling, processing, and analysis. The selected blank consists of a
material that contains lower contents of U3O8 than the sample material but is still above the
detection limit of the analytical process. Due to the sorting of the samples submitted for
assay by SRC based on radioactivity, the blanks employed must be inserted by the SRC
after this sorting takes place, in order to ensure that these materials are ubiquitous
throughout the range of analytical grades. In effect, if the individual geologists were to
submit these samples anonymously, they would invariably be relegated to the minimum
radioactive grade level, preventing their inclusion in the higher radioactive grade analyses
performed by SRC. Figure 11-7 shows results of analyses of blank samples. It can be seen
that most are below the upper limit of 0.013% U3O8, with a maximum analysis of 0.024%
U3O8.
FIELD ASSAY DUPLICATES Analyses of duplicate samples are a mandatory component of quality control. Duplicates are
used to evaluate the field precision of analyses received, and are typically controlled by rock
30
31
32
33
34
35
3607
/07/
2009
28/0
7/20
09
14/0
1/20
10
30/0
4/20
10
11/0
3/20
10
01/1
1/20
12
20/0
9/20
12
26/0
4/20
13
28/0
8/20
13
30/0
9/20
13
25/0
3/20
14
04/0
9/20
14
04/1
0/20
14
17/0
4/20
14
05/1
2/20
14
03/0
9/20
15
26/0
5/20
15
09/0
1/20
15
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_USTD6 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
USTD6 Average USTD6_STD_UL USTD6_STD_LL USTD6 Assay
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Page 11-12 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
heterogeneity and sampling practices. Core duplicates are prepared by collecting a second
sample of the same interval, through splitting the original sample, or other similar technique,
and are submitted as an independent sample. Duplicates are typically submitted at a
minimum rate of one per 20 samples in order to obtain a collection rate of 5%. The collection
may be further tailored to reflect field variation in specific rock types or horizons. Figure 11-8
shows results of analyses of field core duplicates plotted against original analyses. It can be
seen that results are satisfactory with a correlation coefficient of 98%.
FIGURE 11-7 BLANK SAMPLE ANALYSES RESULTS
00.005
0.010.015
0.020.025
0.030.035
0.04
07/0
7/20
0926
/08/
2009
13/0
1/20
1030
/04/
2010
05/0
6/20
1019
/08/
2010
09/0
3/20
1009
/09/
2010
21/1
0/20
1011
/03/
2010
05/0
2/20
1110
/07/
2011
13/1
0/20
1117
/11/
2011
01/1
1/20
1219
/04/
2012
22/0
5/20
1220
/08/
2012
26/0
4/20
1328
/08/
2013
25/0
3/20
1404
/09/
2014
17/0
4/20
1427
/05/
2014
18/0
8/20
1409
/02/
2014
03/0
9/20
1526
/05/
2015
09/0
1/20
15
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol Chart2011_Blank - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
Blank Aveage BLANK_STD_LL BLANK_STD_UL Blank Assay
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Page 11-13 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-8 FIELD DUPLICATE ANALYSES
SRC INTERNAL QA/QC PROGRAM The SRC laboratory has a Quality Assurance program dedicated to active evaluation and
continual improvement in the internal quality management system. The laboratory is
accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as an ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory for Mineral
Analysis Testing and is also accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for the analysis of U3O8. The
laboratory is licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for possession,
transfer, import, export, use, and storage of designated nuclear substances by CNSC
Licence Number 01784-1-09.3. As such, the laboratory is closely monitored and inspected
by the CNSC for compliance.
All analyses are conducted by SRC, which has specialized in the field of uranium research
and analysis for over 30 years.
SRC is an independent laboratory, and no associate, employee, officer, or director of
Denison is, or ever has been, involved in any aspect of sample preparation or analysis on
samples from the Gryphon or Phoenix deposits.
y = 1.004x + 0.1258R² = 0.9857
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
U3O
8As
say
Fiel
d Du
plic
ate
(%)
U3O8 Assay (%)
U3O8 Field Duplicate (%) vs. U3O8 Assay (%)
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Page 11-14 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
The SRC uses a Laboratory Management System (LMS) for Quality Assurance. The LMS
operates in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E) “General Requirements for
the Competence of Mineral Testing and Calibration Laboratories” and is also compliant to
CAN-P-1579 “Guidelines for Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories”. The laboratory
continues to participate in proficiency testing programs organized by CANMET
(CCRMP/PTP-MAL).
All instruments are calibrated using certified materials. Quality control samples were
prepared and analyzed with each batch of samples. Within each batch of 40 samples, one to
two quality control samples were inserted. Five U3O8 reference standards are used: BLA2,
BL3, BL4A (Figure 11-9), BL5, and SRCUO2 which have concentrations of 0.502%, 1.21%
U3O8, 0.148% U3O8, 8.36% U3O8, and 1.58% U3O8, respectively. One in every 40 samples is
analyzed in duplicate; the reproducibility of this is 5%. Before the results leave the
laboratory, the standards, blanks, and split replicates are checked for accuracy, and issued
provided the senior scientist is fully satisfied. If for any reason there is a failure in an
analysis, the sub-group affected will be re-analyzed, and checked again. A Corrective Action
Report will be issued and the problem is investigated fully to ensure that any measures to
prevent the re-occurrence can and will be taken. All human and analytical errors are, where
possible, eliminated. If the laboratory suspects any bias, the samples are re-analyzed and
corrective measures are taken.
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Page 11-15 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-9 BLA4 ANALYSES
Quality control samples (reference materials, blanks, and duplicates) are included with each
analytical run, based on the rack sizes associated with the method. The rack size is the
number of samples (including QC samples) within a batch. Blanks are inserted at the
beginning, standards are inserted at random positions, and duplicates are analyzed at the
end of the batch. Quality control samples are inserted based on the analytical rack size
specific to the method (Table 11-1).
0.14
0.145
0.15
0.155
0.1625
/03/
2014
25/0
3/20
1425
/03/
2014
15/0
4/20
1417
/04/
2014
17/0
4/20
1421
/05/
2014
30/0
5/20
1430
/05/
2014
06/1
1/20
1418
/08/
2014
27/0
8/20
1409
/02/
2014
09/0
2/20
1417
/11/
2014
21/1
1/20
1403
/09/
2015
25/0
5/20
1526
/05/
2015
26/0
5/20
1526
/05/
2015
19/0
8/20
1527
/08/
2015
18/0
9/20
1529
/09/
2015
Stan
dard
Val
ue %
U (p
pm)
Analysis Date
Standard Contol ChartBLA4 - U3O8 per AR_ICP
Module: STD Project WR
BL4A Average BL4A_STD_UL BLA4_STD_LL BLA4 Assay
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Page 11-16 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 11-1 QUALITY CONTROL SAMPLE ALLOCATIONS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Rack Size
Methods Quality Control Sample Allocation
20 Specialty methods including specific gravity, bulk density, and acid insolubility
2 standards, 1 duplicate, 1 blank
28 Specialty fire assay, assay-grade, umpire and concentrate methods
1 standard, 1 duplicate, 1 blank
40 Regular AAS, ICP-AES and ICP-MS methods 2 standards, 1 duplicate, 1 blank
84 Regular fire assay methods 2 standards, 3 duplicates, 1 blank
EXTERNAL LABORATORY CHECK ANALYSIS In addition to the QA/QC described above, Denison sends one in every 25 samples to the
SRC’s Delayed Neutron Counting (DNC) laboratory, a separate facility located at SRC
Analytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, to compare the uranium values using two different
methods, by two separate laboratories.
The DNC method is specific for uranium and no other elements are analyzed by this
technique. The DNC system detects neutrons emitted by the fission of U-235 in the sample,
and the instrument response is compared to the response from known reference materials to
determine the concentration of uranium in the sample. In order for the analysis to work, the
uranium must be in its natural isotopic ratio. Enriched or depleted, uranium cannot be
analyzed accurately by DNC.
There are 85 assay pairs that used both ICP-OES Total Digestion and the DNC assay
technique. Figure 11-10 shows the correlation between the SRC Geoanalytical and the SRC
DNC laboratories. It can be seen that correlation is excellent. Uranium grades obtained with
the DNC technique were used only as check assays and were not directly used for Mineral
Resource estimation.
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Page 11-17 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 11-10 U3O8 DNC VERSUS ICP-OES ASSAY VALUES
SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY SRC considers customer confidentially and security to be of utmost importance and takes
appropriate steps to protect the integrity of sample processing at all stages from sample
storage and handling to transmission of results. All electronic information is password
protected and backed up on a daily basis. Electronic results are transmitted with additional
security features. Access to SRC’s premises is restricted by an electronic security system.
The facilities at the main laboratory are regularly patrolled by security guards 24 hours a day.
After the analyses are completed, analytical data are securely sent using electronic
transmission of the results, by SRC to Denison. The electronic results are secured using
WINZIP encryption and password protection. These results are provided as a series of
Adobe PDF files containing the official analytical results and a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
file containing only the analytical results.
In RPA’s opinion, sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures meet industry
standards, and the QA/QC program as designed and implemented by Denison is adequate;
y = 1.0191x + 0.0638R² = 0.9988
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
U3O
8FI
nal (
%)
U3O8 DNC (%)
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Page 11-18 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
consequently, the assay results within the drill hole database are suitable for use in a Mineral
Resource estimate.
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Page 12-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
12 DATA VERIFICATION RPA reviewed and verified the resource database used to estimate the Mineral Resources
for both the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits. The verification included a review of the QA/QC
methods and results, verifying assay certificates against the database assay table, standard
database validation tests, and two site visits.
Denison has developed and documented several QA/QC procedures and protocols for all
exploration projects operated by Denison. The review of the QA/QC program and results is
presented in Section 11, Sample Preparation, Analyses and Security. RPA reviewed
Denison’s procedures and protocols and considers them to be reasonable and acceptable
SITE VISIT AND CORE REVIEW Dr. Roscoe visited the Property on June 16, 2014 in connection with the Phoenix deposit
Mineral Resource estimate and held discussions with technical personnel in RPA’s Toronto
office on May 4, 2014. Mr. Mathisen visited the Property on March 23 to 25, 2015, during the
winter drill program in connection with the Gryphon Mineral Resource estimate. RPA visited
several drill sites and reviewed all core handling, logging, sampling, and storage procedures.
RPA examined core from several drill holes and compared observations with assay results
and descriptive log records made by Denison geologists. As part of the review, RPA verified
the occurrences of mineralization visually and by way of a hand-held scintillometer.
DATABASE VALIDATION RPA conducted audits of historic records to ensure that the grade, thickness, elevation, and
location of uranium mineralization used in preparing the current uranium resource estimate
correspond to mineralization. RPA performed the following digital queries. No significant
issues were identified.
• Header table: searched for incorrect or duplicate collar coordinates and duplicate holeIDs.
• Survey table: searched for duplicate entries, survey points past the specifiedmaximum depth in the collar table, and abnormal dips and azimuths.
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Page 12-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
• Core recovery table: searched for core recoveries greater than 100% or less than80%, overlapping intervals, missing collar data, negative widths, and data points pastthe specified maximum depth in the collar table.
• Lithology and Probe tables: searched for duplicate entries, intervals past the specifiedmaximum depth in the collar table, overlapping intervals, negative widths, missingcollar data, missing intervals, and incorrect logging codes.
• Geochemical and assay table: searched for duplicate entries, sample intervals pastthe specified maximum depth, negative widths, overlapping intervals, sampling widthsexceeding tolerance levels, missing collar data, missing intervals, and duplicatedsample IDs.
INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OF ASSAY TABLE The assay table contains 3,233 laboratory records. RPA verified approximately 1,010
records representing 30% of the data for uranium values against 39 different laboratory
certificates. No discrepancies were found.
Based on the data validation by Denison and RPA and the results of the standard, blank, and
duplicate analyses, RPA is of the opinion that the assay database is of sufficient quality for
Mineral Resource estimation.
DISEQUILIBRIUM Radioactive isotopes lose energy by emitting radiation and transition to different isotopes in a
“decay series” or “decay chain” until they eventually reach a stable non-radioactive state.
Decay chain isotopes are referred to as “daughters” of the “parent” isotope. When all the
decay products are maintained in close association with uranium-238 for the order of a
million years, the daughter isotopes will be in equilibrium with the parent. Disequilibrium
occurs when one or more decay products is dispersed as a result of differences in solubility
between uranium and its daughters, and/or escape of radon gas.
Knowledge of, and correction for, disequilibrium is important for deposits for which the grade
is measured by gamma-ray probes, which measure daughter products of uranium.
Disequilibrium is considered positive when there is a higher proportion of uranium present
compared to daughters. This is the case where decay products have been transported
elsewhere or uranium has been added by, for example, secondary enrichment. Positive
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Page 12-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
disequilibrium has a disequilibrium factor which is greater than 1.0. Disequilibrium is
considered negative where daughters are accumulated and uranium is depleted. This so
called “negative” disequilibrium has a disequilibrium factor of less than 1.0 but not less than
zero.
Disequilibrium is determined by comparing uranium grades measured by chemical analyses
with the “gamma only” radiometric grade of the same samples measured in a laboratory.
There are practical difficulties in comparing chemical analyses of uranium from drill hole
samples with corresponding values from borehole gamma logging, because of the difference
in sample size between drill core (average grades in core or chip samples) and radiometric
probe measurements (gamma response from spheres of influence up to one metre in
diameter). Also, any probe calibration (and/or assay) error can be misinterpreted as
disequilibrium. If the gamma radiation emitted by the daughter products of uranium is in
balance with the actual uranium content of the measured interval (assay), then uranium
grade can be calculated solely from the gamma intensity measurement.
Denison routinely compares borehole natural gamma data to chemical assays as part of its
QA/QC program as illustrated in the example in Figures 12-1 to 12-9 (Phoenix) and Figures
12-10 to 12-13 (Gryphon). The downhole depths for gamma results in Figures 12-1 to 12-13
have not been corrected for depth so they do not correspond exactly to the chemical assay
depths. Reasonable uranium grades can be calculated from the triple gamma probe (Geiger
Mueller, or GM, tube) empirical data up to 80%. Above 80%, the counts (the maximum count
rate is about 3,500 cps) increase very little with increased grades due to the physical
characteristics of the GM tube (Sweet and Petrie 2010). In general, radiometric grades are
somewhat lower than chemical assay grades because:
• The GM tube can become saturated at very high grades and it cannot count anyhigher.
• Some gamma rays are captured by the uranium, converted to photons, and absorbed(self-absorption), i.e., they are not available to the detector.
Denison and RPA carried out a check of the digital probe database used for resource
estimation by verifying the resource database against original assay data. Denison and RPA
concluded that in instances where core recovery was less than 80%, radiometric data could
be substituted for chemical assays and that the assay database was of sufficient quality for
Mineral Resource estimation.
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Page 12-4 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-1 WR-318 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
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Page 12-5 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-2 WR-334 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-3 WR-273 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
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Page 12-6 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-4 WR-435 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-5 WR-548 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
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Page 12-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-6 WR-525 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-7 WR-401 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
395 397 399 401 403 405 407 409 411 413 415
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
390 392 394 396 398 400 402 404 406 408 410 412 414 416 418 420
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
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Page 12-8 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-8 WR-306 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-9 WR-539 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415
Gra
de U
3O8
(%)
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
0
10
20
30
40
50
395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8) Assay (%U3O8)
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Page 12-9 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-10 WR-560 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-11 WR-573D1 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
Assay (%U3O8) GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
Assay (%U3O8) GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8)
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Page 12-10 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 12-12 WR-582 RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
FIGURE 12-13 WR-584B RADIOMETRIC VS. ASSAY % U3O8 VALUES
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00
755.00 757.00 759.00 761.00 763.00 765.00 767.00 769.00 771.00 773.00 775.00
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
Assay (%U3O8) GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8)
0
5
10
15
20
25
640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650
%eU
3O8
vs. %
U3O
8
Depth (m)
Assay (%U3O8) GM 12 Gamma (%eU3O8)
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Page 13-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
13 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING Preliminary metallurgical testing was carried out on a composite sample from the Phoenix
deposit by the Saskatchewan Research Council in Saskatoon under the direction of Chuck
Edwards, Director of Metallurgy at AMEC Americas Limited. A representative composite
sample consisting of 17.5 kg of split drill core from the Phoenix deposit was subjected to
QEMSCAN analysis, preliminary sulphuric acid leaching tests, leach residue settling tests,
solvent extraction tests, and a yellowcake production test. The grade of the sample was
19.7% U3O8, approximately the same as the average grade of the deposit.
Key points from the test work are summarized below:
• Uraninite is the primary uranium mineral.
• Deleterious element concentrations are very low.
• Over 95% of the uraninite was exposed in all size fractions, indicating that a relatively coarse grind can be planned for leaching.
• Leach tests suggest that over 99.5% of the uranium can be extracted in 8-12 hours at a temperature of 50°C, atmospheric pressure, and addition of an oxidant.
• Acid consumption was low at 1.6-1.7 kg/lb U3O8.
• Solvent extraction is effective to selectively extract and purify uranium.
• A high purity yellowcake product was produced that met all ASTM C967-13 specifications.
Preliminary metallurgical testing for the Gryphon deposit is near finalization. The Gryphon
deposit is expected to have similar high extraction efficiencies based on observation of drill
core, petrographic work, and geochemical data.
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Page 14-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
14 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE RPA has estimated Mineral Resources for the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits based on
results of several surface diamond drilling campaigns from 2008 to 2015. The Phoenix
deposit consists of zone A and zone B at the Athabasca unconformity, and zone A basement
mineralization which is immediately below the north part of zone A. The Gryphon deposit
consists of several stacked lenses in the basement, and is located approximately three
kilometres northwest of the Phoenix deposit.
Table 14-1 summarizes the Mineral Resource estimate, of which Denison’s share is 60%.
The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate is September 25, 2015. The Mineral
Resource estimate for Phoenix was reported in a previous NI 43-101 Technical Report
(Roscoe 2014) dated June 17, 2014 with and effective date of May 28, 2014, and there has
been no change to the Phoenix Mineral Resource estimate since that time. Details of the
estimation methodology follow below.
TABLE 14-1 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR THE WHEELER RIVER PROJECT AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 (100% BASIS)
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Category Deposit Tonnes Grade (% U3O8)
Million lbs U3O8
Indicated Phoenix - Zone A 147,200 19.81 64.3 Indicated Phoenix - Zone B 19,200 13.94 5.9 Total Indicated 166,400 19.14 70.2 Inferred Phoenix - Zone B 5,500 3.30 0.4 Inferred Phoenix - Zone A Basement 3,100 10.24 0.7 Inferred Gryphon Deposit 834,000 2.31 43.0 Total Inferred 842,600 2.37 44.1
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. 2. Mineral Resources for Phoenix are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8, which is based on
internal Denison studies and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 3. Mineral Resources for Gryphon are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8, which is based on RPA
assumptions and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 4. High grade composites are subjected to a high grade search restriction without capping at Phoenix. 5. High grade mineralization was capped at 30% U3O8 with no search restrictions at Gryphon. 6. Bulk density is derived from grade using a formula based on 196 measurements at Phoenix and 65
measurements at Gryphon. 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
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Page 14-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
RPA is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic,
marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource
estimate.
DRILL HOLE DATABASE The Property drill hole database includes drilling results from 2008 to 2015, which comprise
433 diamond drill holes totalling 222,154 m, of which 196 drill holes totalling 89,835 m have
delineated the Phoenix deposit and 55 holes totalling 40,041 m have delineated the Gryphon
deposit. Zone A at Phoenix is the northeastern lens and strikes N52°E and zone B consists
of two subzones, B1 and B2, which form the southwestern part of the Phoenix deposit. Zone
A basement mineralization is within a narrow fracture zone that extends below the northern
end of zone A. The Gryphon deposit is a series of stacked basement mineralized lenses
striking N20oE.
Upon completion of the initial data processing, the borehole data as well as radiometric
logging information was uploaded into VULCAN software. Table 14-2 lists details of the
VULCAN database used for the resource estimate. Section 12, Data Verification, describes
the verification steps made by RPA. In summary, no discrepancies were identified and RPA
is of the opinion that the drill hole database is valid and suitable to estimate Mineral
Resources for the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits.
TABLE 14-2 VULCAN DATABASE RECORDS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Table Name Number of Records
Gryphon Phoenix Collar 69 253 Survey 857 2,879 Stratigraphy 934 2,632 Assay Values 1,019 2,111 Radiometric Values (% eU3O8) 118,048 166,287 Block Model 1m Composites in Wireframes 419 703
A Deposit UC – Composites 471 B Deposit UC – Composites 92
A Deposit Basement – Composites 140
Drill holes at Phoenix were completed on northwest-southeast oriented sections spaced at
approximately 25 m intervals along strike with a drill hole spacing of approximately 10 m
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Page 14-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
along the sections. Earlier holes were drilled at steep angles to the northwest and later holes
were collared vertically. Figure 14-1 shows zones A and B with locations of drill holes.
Figure 14-2 shows the location of the zone A basement mineralization.
For Gryphon, drill holes were completed on northwest-southeast oriented sections spaced at
approximately 50 m intervals along strike with a drill hole spacing of approximately 50 m
along the sections. Figure 14-3 shows the locations of drill holes at Gryphon.
ZONE A
ZONE B1
ZONE B2
Drill Hole Trace
N
0 50
Metres
100 150 200
UTM Projection WGS 84-13NNovember 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix DepositZones A and B
Drill Hole Locations
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 14-1
14
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Drill Hole Trace
ZONE A BASEMENT
N
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
UTM Projection WGS 84-13NNovember 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit Zone ABasement Drill Hole Locations
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 214-
15
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Legend:
Quartzite
Drill Hole Collar
Graphitic Pelite
Pelite
Pegmatite
Property Boundary
0 500
Metres
1000 1500 2000
N
November 2015
Gryphon DepositDrill Hole Locations
Wheeler River Property
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 14-3
14-6
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 14-7 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION AND 3D SOLIDS
PHOENIX DEPOSIT Denison has interpreted the geology, structure, and mineralized zones at Phoenix using data
from 196 diamond drill holes that penetrate the basal unconformity of the Athabasca
sandstone. Uranium mineralization occurs at the unconformity surface and in the adjacent
sandstone above and in the adjacent graphitic pelite basement rocks below the
unconformity. Zones A and B both strike approximately N52°E and are essentially
horizontal.
A regional fault, the WS fault, is spatially associated with mineralization in the Phoenix
deposit. The WS fault trends northeasterly, parallel to the mineralization, and dips
moderately to the southeast. It appears to be a steep angle reverse fault, displacing the
unconformity in the order of five metres or more upward on the southeast side. Uranium
mineralization extends outward to the southeast from the WS fault, suggesting that the
primary controls on the Phoenix deposit are the intersection of the WS fault with the
unconformity and graphitic pelite in the basement. Some uranium mineralization occurs on
the northwest side of the WS fault along the unconformity which is at lower elevation,
however, it is limited in extent to the northwest. Other faults are present in the Phoenix
deposit sub-parallel to the WS fault but with lesser vertical displacements. Some cross faults
with easterly or southeasterly trends are interpreted, with displacements in the order of five
metres or more.
The zone A basement mineralization is restricted to a narrow (<3 m) fracture zone extending
approximately 20 m below the northern end of zone A. The fracture zone runs parallel to the
strike of zone A at approximately N52°E and dips at -65° to the southeast. The axis of the
fracture is centred along drill holes WR-503, WR-403, and WR-506 and is interpreted as
splay faulting associated with the WS fault described previously.
Denison developed three dimensional (3D) wireframe models, which were reviewed and
accepted by RPA for the Phoenix deposit zones A and B. The models represent grade
envelopes using the geological interpretation described above as guidance. The wireframes
consisted of a lower grade (LG) domain and a higher grade (HG) domain. For the LG
wireframe, a threshold grade of 0.05% U3O8 was used as a guide. For zone A, the threshold
grade for inclusion in the HG domain was approximately 20% U3O8, although lower grades
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Page 14-8 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
were incorporated in places to maintain continuity and to maintain a minimum thickness of
two metres. For zone B, the minimum threshold for the HG domain was approximately 10%
U3O8 over a minimum thickness of two metres. Figures 14-4 to 14-6 are cross sections of
zone A showing drill holes with one metre composite grades and the outlines of the HG and
LG domains. Figure 14-7 shows the same for zone B. Figure 14-8 is a longitudinal view of
the zone A basement domain.
The wireframe model developed for zone A is approximately 380 m long, 36 m wide, and
ranges in thickness from two metres to 17 m with an average thickness of five metres. The
zone B wireframe model measures approximately 290 m long, averages 19 m wide, and is
approximately three metres thick. The wireframes were used to assign domain codes to the
blocks in the block model and for generating and coding composited assays.
Drill Hole
3 8
Legend:
1 metre composite withgrade in % U O
1.0714.40
11.251.08
0 2 10
Metres
4 6 8
November 2015
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, CanadaWheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit, Zone ATypical Cross Section Including
WR-435 with HG and LG Domains
Figure -414
19
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Drill Hole
3 8
Legend:
1 metre composite withgrade in % U O
1.0714.40
11.251.08
0 2 10
Metres
4 6 8
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Phoenix Deposit, Zone ATypical Cross Section Including
WR-525 with HG and LG Domains
Figure -514
110
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Drill Hole
3 8
Legend:
1 metre composite withgrade in % U O
1.0714.40
11.251.08
0 2 10
Metres
4 6 8
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit, Zone ATypical Cross Section Including
WR-401 with HG and LG Domains
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure -614
111
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Drill Hole
3 8
Legend:
1 metre composite withgrade in % U O
1.0714.40
11.251.08
0 2 10
Metres
4 6 8
November 2015
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, CanadaWheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit, Zone BTypical Cross Section Including
WR-294 with HG and LG Domains
Figure -714
112
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Drill Hole
3 8
Legend:
1 metre composite withgrade in % U O
1.0714.40
11.251.08
0 2 10
Metres
4 6 8
November 2015
Denison Mines Corp.
Phoenix DepositZone A Basement
Longitudinal Section
Northern Saskatchewan, CanadaWheeler River Property
Figure -814
113
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 14-14 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Wireframe models of mineralized zones were used to constrain the block model grade
interpolation process, based on a total of 55 holes. RPA built the wireframe models using 3D
polylines on northeast looking vertical sections spaced approximately 12.5 m apart.
Polylines were “snapped” to assay intervals along the drill hole traces such that the sectional
interpretations “wobbled” in 3D space. Polylines were joined together in 3D and the
continuity was checked using a longitudinal section and level plans.
A threshold grade of 0.05% U3O8 and a minimum core length of two metres was used as a
guide, resulting in a series of eight stacked lenses or domains of variable thicknesses that
plunge 35° to 60° at 035° to 040° northeast, and dip 25° to 50° to the southeast (Table 14-3
and Figures 14-9 and 14-10). The mineralized wireframes were subsequently clipped to
include only drill holes with intersections greater than 0.2% U3O8 over a minimum thickness
of two metres. The stacked lenses form a zone of mineralization measuring approximately
280 m long (along plunge) by 113 m wide (across plunge) and remain open both up and
down plunge. Wireframes were assigned to zones as identified by Denison disclosures.
TABLE 14-3 SUMMARY OF GRYPHON WIREFRAME MODELS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Zone Wireframe Name Points Triangles Surface Area Volume Tonnage
Block Model Code
A1 rpa_gryphon_min_a1_1.00t 893 1,782 98,989 169,823 382,731 1 A2 rpa_gryphon_min_a2_1.00t 810 1,616 62,098 72,158 162,622 2 A3 rpa_gryphon_min_a3_1.00t 188 372 9,539 8,467 19,082 3 B1 rpa_gryphon_min_b1_1.00t 525 1,046 46,301 63,537 143,192 4 B2 rpa_gryphon_min_b3_1.00t 367 730 30,191 36,606 82,499 5 B3 rpa_gryphon_min_b2_1.00t 205 406 8,855 11,467 25,844 6 C1 rpa_gryphon_min_c1_1.00t 402 800 28,343 30,812 69,440 8 C2 rpa_gryphon_min_c2_1.00t 511 1,018 13,895 12,053 27,163 9 D1 rpa_gryphon_min_d1.00t 65 126 6,779 6,330 14,267 10 D2 rpa_gryphon_min_d2.00t 46 88 3,121 2,912 6,563 11 D3 rpa_gryphon_min_d3.00t 14 24 1,215 1,046 2,357 12 D4 rpa_gryphon_min_d4.00t 24 44 800 637 1,435 13 Total 4,050 8,052 310,127 415,848 937,196
Notes: • A-Series (A1, A2, and A3): represent the mineralized zones on the hanging wall (Upper Zone) of the
quartz-pegmatite assemblage (wireframes 1, 2 and 3)• B-Series (B1, B2, and B3): represent the mineralized zones within the quartz-pegmatite assemblage
(wireframes 4, 5, and 6)• C-Series (C1 and C2): represent the mineralized zones along the foot wall (Lower Zone) of the quartz-
pegmatite assemblage (wireframes 8 and 9)
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Page 14-15 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
• D-Series (D1, D2, D3, and D4): represent four low grade mineralized zones (wireframes 10, 11, 12 and 13), which do not have enough drilling to be included in the resource estimate
Mineral Resources were estimated for the A, B, and C Series lenses, and not for the D
Series, which were considered to have insufficient drilling. The A1 and C1 domains
collectively make up nearly 69% of the contained pounds of U3O8 in the Mineral Resource.
RPA conducted audits of the wireframes to ensure that the wireframes used in preparing the
current resource estimate correspond to the reported mineralization. Quality control
measures and the data verification procedures repeated in 2015 included the following:
• Check for overlapping wireframes to determine possible double counting.
• Check mineralization/wireframe extensions beyond last holes to see if they are reasonable and consistent.
• Check for reasonable compositing intervals.
• Check that composite intervals start and stop at wireframe boundaries.
• Validate the solids for closure and consistent topology, and check that the triangles intersect properly (crossing). Any issues found were corrected with the appropriate Vulcan utility to ensure accurate volume and grade estimates.
Strat Group
Unconformity
Manitou Falls Fm.
Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0. %05
0. % - 0.8 %2
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 0 %6
> 0 %6
0. % - 0. %05 2
Overburden
Quartzite
Graphitic Pelite
Pegmatite
Pelite
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Gryphon DepositGeologic Cross Section
Schematic of Mineralization
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 14-9
14-1
6
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0. %05
0. % - 0.8 %2
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 0 %6
> 0 %6
0. % - 0. %05 2
Strat Group
Overburden
Quartzite
Graphitic Pelite
Pegmatite
Pelite
Unconformity
Manitou Falls Fm.
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
November 2015
Looking NE
Wheeler River Property
Gryphon DepositWireframes at Drill
INDEX LINE 5000 Cross Section
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 14-10
14-1
7
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 14-18 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
BULK DENSITY Bulk density is used to convert volume to tonnage and to weight the block grade estimates.
In high grade uranium deposits such as Gryphon, bulk density varies with grade due to the
very high density of pitchblende/uraninite compared to host lithologies. Bulk density also
varies with clay alteration and in situ rock porosity. For Mineral Resource estimates of high
grade uranium deposits, it is important to estimate bulk density values throughout the deposit
and to weight grade values by density since small volumes of high grade material contain
large masses of uranium oxide.
Bulk density is determined by Denison with specific gravity (SG) measurements on drill core.
SG is calculated as: weight in air/(weight in air – weight in water). Under all reasonable
conditions, SG (a unitless ratio) is equivalent to density in t/m3.
PHOENIX DEPOSIT From 2012 to 2014, Denison completed a program of dry bulk density sampling from
diamond drill core in order to establish the relationship between bulk density and grade for
the Phoenix deposit zones A and B. Dry bulk density samples were selected from the main
mineralized zones to represent local major lithologic units, mineralization styles, and
alteration types. Samples were collected from half split core, which had been previously
retained in the core box after geochemical sampling. Samples were tagged and placed in
sample bags on site, then shipped to the SRC in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In total, SRC
has performed SG measurements on a total of 196 samples; 162 from zone A and 34 from
zone B.
Denison carried out correlation analyses of the bulk density values against uranium grades
which indicated a strong relationship between density and uranium grade (%U3O8) shown in
Figure 14-11. The relationship can be represented by the following polynomial formula which
is based on a regression fit.
y = 0.0008x2 – 0.0077x + 2.3361
where y is dry bulk density (g/cm3) and x is the uranium grade in %U3O8. In some cases
when the samples are very clay rich, core fatigue (sample crumbles) prevented the wax from
being applied and SG was calculated using the wet/dry method only. Figure 14-12 shows a
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Page 14-19 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
strong correlation between the methodologies and RPA is satisfied that either methodology is
suitable for determining SG.
FIGURE 14-11 LOGARITHMIC PLOT OF DRY BULK DENSITY VERSUS URANIUM GRADE - PHOENIX DEPOSIT
y = 0.0008x2 - 0.0077x + 2.3361R² = 0.8166
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Deni
sty
(g/c
m3 )
Grade (%U3O8)
SGwax_ratio_CALC WR-PA WR-PB Poly. (SGwax_ratio_CALC)
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Page 14-20 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-12 DRY BULK DENSITY WAX VERSUS DRY/WET METHODS - PHOENIX DEPOSIT
The regression curve in Figure 14-11 is relatively flat at a grade less than 10% U3O8, with
density relatively constant at 2.33 g/cm3. At grades greater than 20%, dry bulk density
increases with higher uranium grades. There are a number of strongly mineralized samples
that have low dry bulk densities and vice versa, which results in significant scatter in dry bulk
density values. The lower bulk density values associated with strongly mineralized samples
may be attributed to the amount of clay alteration in the samples. Generally, clay alteration
causes decomposition of feldspar and mafic minerals with resultant replacement by lighter
clay minerals as well as loss of silica from feldspar that lowers the dry bulk density of the
rock.
Denison has estimated a dry bulk density value for each grade value in the drill hole
database by using the polynomial formula shown above. In RPA’s opinion, the SG sampling
methods and resulting data are suitable for Mineral Resource estimation at Phoenix.
y = 1.029x - 0.2928R² = 0.9845
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SG W
ax (g
/cm
3 )
SG Core (g/cm3)
SG Core vs. WAX Linear (SG Core vs. WAX)
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Page 14-21 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Based on 65 dry bulk density determinations, Denison developed a formula relating bulk
density to grade which was used to assign a density value to each assay. Bulk density
values were used to weight grades during the resource estimation process and to convert
volume to tonnage.
Denison carried out correlation analyses of the bulk density values against uranium grades
(%U3O8) as shown in Figure 14-13. The relationship can be represented by the following
polynomial formula which is based on a regression fit.
y = 4E-05x2 + 0.0166x + 2.2537
where y is dry bulk density (g/cm3) and x is the uranium grade in %U3O8. The available SG
values for the assay data were reviewed and accepted by RPA and used to assign bulk
density values to each sample.
FIGURE 14-13 LOGARITHMIC PLOT OF DRY BULK DENSITY VERSUS URANIUM GRADE - GRYPHON DEPOSIT
y = 0.0004x2 + 0.0166x + 2.2537R² = 0.9046
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Dens
ity (g
/cm
3)
Grade (%U3O8)
SGwax_ratio_CALC Poly. (SGwax_ratio_CALC)
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Page 14-22 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Denison has estimated a dry bulk density value for each grade value in the drill hole
database by using the polynomial formula shown above. In RPA’s opinion, the SG sampling
methods and resulting data are suitable for Mineral Resource estimation at Gryphon.
STATISTICS
TREATMENT OF HIGH GRADE VALUES Where the assay distribution is skewed positively or approaches log normal, erratic high
grade assay values can have a disproportionate effect on the average grade of a deposit.
One method of treating these outliers in order to reduce their influence on the average grade
is to cut or cap them at a specific grade level. In the absence of production data to calibrate
the cutting level, inspection of the assay distribution can be used to estimate a “first pass”
cutting level.
PHOENIX DEPOSIT Although the Phoenix deposit is a high grade uranium deposit, adequate sample support, the
use of high grade domains, and lack of apparent high grade outliers made high grade
capping unnecessary. The influence of high grade values, however, was restricted during
the block estimation process as discussed below under interpolation parameters.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Assay values located inside the wireframe models were tagged with domain identifiers and
exported for statistical analysis. Results were used to help verify the modelling process.
Basic statistics by domain are summarized in Table 14-4.
TABLE 14-4 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF GRYPHON URANIUM ASSAY BY DOMAIN Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Descriptive Statistic Zone A1 Zone A2 Zone A3 Zone B1 Count 281 102 17 190 Mean 2.46 0.76 0.55 0.58 Median 0.25 0.08 0.16 0.09 Std. Dev. 6.22 1.75 1.14 2.00 Variance 38.73 3.05 1.30 4.00 Kurtosis 17.03 8.02 6.38 46.77 Skewness 4.00 2.94 2.73 6.44 Range 40.60 8.67 4.56 17.10 Minimum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Maximum 40.60 8.67 4.56 17.10
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Page 14-23 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Coefficient of Variation 2.53 2.29 2.06 3.47 Descriptive Statistic Zone B2 Zone B3 Zone C1 Zone C2 Count 49 24 46 15 Mean 2.60 3.89 4.75 0.26 Median 0.25 0.43 0.42 0.16 Std. Dev. 4.77 8.37 10.39 0.29 Variance 22.79 70.12 107.91 0.09 Kurtosis 3.31 6.73 5.68 0.47 Skewness 2.09 2.70 2.60 1.21 Range 18.80 36.00 42.50 1.01 Minimum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Maximum 18.80 36.00 42.50 1.01 Coefficient of Variation 1.84 2.15 2.19 1.14
Review of the resource assay histogram and log normal probability plots within the wireframe
domains and a visual inspection of high grade values on vertical sections suggest cutting
erratic grade values to 30% (Figure 14-14), which only impacts zones A1, B3, and C1.
Results of the capping impacted 10 (1.2%) values out of 834 assays. Table 14-5 lists
descriptive statistics for the domains affected by cutting.
TABLE 14-5 STATISTICS OF GRYPHON CAPPED ASSAYS BY DOMAIN Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Zone A1 Zone B3 Zone C1 Descriptive Statistic Raw Cap Raw Cap Raw Cap Count 281 281 24 24 46 46 Mean 2.46 2.34 3.89 3.64 4.75 4.20 Median 0.25 0.25 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.42 Std. Dev. 6.22 5.61 8.37 7.61 10.39 8.66 Variance 38.73 31.49 70.12 57.91 107.91 75.04 Kurtosis 17.03 13.45 6.73 6.21 5.68 4.36 Skewness 4.00 3.61 2.70 2.56 2.60 2.36 Range 40.60 30.00 36.00 30.00 42.50 30.00 Minimum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Maximum 40.60 30.00 36.00 30.00 42.50 30.00 Coefficient of Variation 2.53 2.39 2.15 2.09 2.19 2.06
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Page 14-24 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-14 ZONE A1 LOG NORMAL PROBABILITY AND HISTOGRAM PLOT – GRYPHON DEPOSIT
.999 .999
.99 .99
.9 .9
.5 .5
.1 .1
.01 .01
.001 .0010.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Log
Nor
mal
Pro
babi
lity
%
Grade (% U3O8)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0.00
1.40
2.80
4.20
5.60
7.00
8.40
9.80
11.2
12.6
14.0
15.4
16.8
18.2
19.6
21.0
22.4
23.8
25.2
26.6
28.0
29.4
30.8
32.2
33.6
35.0
36.4
37.8
39.2
40.6
Sam
ple
Cou
nt
Grade (% U3O8)
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Page 14-25 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
COMPOSITES As discussed in Section 10 Drilling and Section 11 Sample Preparation, Analyses and
Security, all drill core samples with chemical assays are 0.5 m long and all radiometric
measurements are 0.1 m long. Radiometric measurements are used in lieu of chemical
assays where core recovery is less than 80%.
Sample lengths range from 0.5 cm to 1.0 m within the wireframe models, however, 99.85%
of the samples were taken at 0.5 m intervals. Given this distribution, and considering the
width of the mineralization, RPA composited uranium grade (G), bulk density (D), and
uranium grade multiplied by density (GxD) values over one metre run-length intervals to
create a composite database for statistical analysis and block estimation purposes. Assay
grades are weighted by both sample length and density when compositing. Compositing
was restricted to within the wireframe models (hard boundaries). This can result in residual
short composites at the bottom of the wireframes. These short composites were retained if
they were between 0.5 m and 1.0 m long, and were added to the previous full length
composite if they were less than 0.5 m long. As discussed below, block estimation was done
by interpolating GxD and density and dividing them to obtain a density-weighted grade
estimate for each block.
Approximately 23% of the drill holes used for the Phoenix deposit zone A resource estimate
and approximately 25% of those used for the zone B resource estimate have radiometric
measurements. No radiometric data were used in the Gryphon resource estimate.
PHOENIX DEPOSIT Separate composite files were prepared for the zone A HG domain, zone A LG domain, zone
B HG domain, zone B LG domain, and zone A basement domain. Table 14-6 lists
descriptive statistics of composite grade and GxD for each of these domains.
Figure 14-15 shows histograms of grade for each of these domains. Figure 14-16 shows
grade versus density plots of these domains.
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Page 14-26 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 14-6 BASIC STATISTICS OF GRADE AND GXD COMPOSITES FOR PHOENIX DEPOSIT ZONES A AND B HG AND LG DOMAINS
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Statistic Zone A Grade Zone B Grade Zone A GxD Zone B GxD
HG LG BSMT HG LG HG LG BSMT HG LG Mean 34.86 1.77 1.56 21.65 1.57 156.50 4.20 4.48 77.51 3.75 Standard Error 1.93 0.14 0.36 3.74 0.31 12.99 0.36 1.24 16.89 0.76 Median 31.52 0.59 0.32 17.14 0.53 107.54 1.36 0.88 43.68 1.24 Mode #N/A 0.18 0.00 #N/A 0.25 #N/A 0.42 1.93 #N/A 0.35 Standard Deviation 21.62 2.69 4.26 15.85 2.64 145.26 6.63 14.28 71.67 6.46 Sample Variance 467.56 7.23 18.12 251.25 6.99 21,101.66 43.93 203.78 5,136.66 41.74 Kurtosis -0.69 10.25 23.16 -1.02 4.65 0.77 15.12 31.86 -0.87 5.24 Skewness 0.45 2.81 4.72 0.54 2.36 1.27 3.23 5.49 0.84 2.46 Range 82.31 20.13 27.66 49.24 10.86 595.34 56.99 101.48 212.74 27.49 Minimum 0.29 0.01 0.00 1.46 0.01 0.69 0.02 0.00 3.42 0.02 Maximum 82.60 20.14 27.66 50.69 10.87 596.02 57.01 101.49 216.16 27.51 Sum 4,357.3 607.7 214.9 389.7 113.0 19,562.5 1,445.5 595.6 1,395.2 270.0 Count 125 344 138 18 72 125 344 133 18 72 Coefficient of Variation 0.62 1.52 2.73 0.73 1.68 0.93 1.58 3.19 0.92 1.72
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Page 14-27 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-15 GRADE COMPOSITE HISTOGRAMS FOR PHOENIX DEPOSIT ZONES A AND B HG AND LG DOMAINS
0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%100.00%
0
10
20
30
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Freq
uenc
y
Grade
Phoenix Zone A HG Domain Grade Histogram
Frequency Cumulative %
0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%100.00%
0
2
4
6
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Freq
uenc
y
Grade
Phoenix Zone B HG Domain Grade Histogram
Frequency Cumulative %
0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%100.00%
0
50
100
150
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Freq
uenc
y
Grade
Phoenix Zone A BSMT Domain Grade Histogram
Frequency Cumulative %
0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%100.00%
050
100150200250
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Freq
uenc
y
Grade
Phoenix Zone A LG Domain Grade Histogram
Frequency Cumulative %
0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%100.00%
0
20
40
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Freq
uenc
y
Grade
Phoenix Zone B LG Domain Grade Histogram
Frequency Cumulative %
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Page 14-28 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-16 GRADE VS. DENSITY PLOTS FOR PHOENIX DEPOSIT ZONES A AND B HG AND LG DOMAINS
y = 0.0007x2 + 0.0027x + 2.312R² = 0.9879
012345678
0 20 40 60 80 100
Dens
ity
Grade
Phoenix Zone A HG Domain
y = 0.0006x2 + 0.0093x + 2.2571R² = 0.9625
0
1
2
3
4
5
0 20 40 60
Dens
ity
Grade
Phoenix Zone B HG Domain
y = 0.0013x2 - 0.0161x + 2.3417R² = 0.8511
00.5
11.5
22.5
33.5
0 10 20 30
Dens
ity
Grade
Phoenix Zone A BSMT Domain
y = 0.0009x2 - 0.0063x + 2.3357R² = 0.7685
2.32.35
2.42.45
2.52.55
2.62.65
0 5 10 15 20 25
Dens
ity
Grade
Phoenix Zone A LG Domain
y = 0.0014x2 - 0.0083x + 2.3365R² = 0.5939
2.3
2.35
2.4
2.45
2.5
0 5 10 15
Dens
ity
Grade
Phoenix Zone B LG Domain
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Page 14-29 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Assays were capped prior to compositing. Table 14-7 shows the composite statistics by
domain.
TABLE 14-7 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF GRYPHON DEPOSIT COMPOSITE URANIUM ASSAY BY DOMAIN
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property Descriptive Statistic Zone A1 Zone A2 Zone A3 Zone B1 Count 131 51 4 51 Mean 2.25 0.76 0.94 0.89 Median 0.38 0.16 0.67 0.18 Std. Dev. 4.53 1.32 0.96 2.34 Variance 20.52 1.74 0.92 5.46 Kurtosis 12.36 3.74 -1.28 16.26 Skewness 3.26 2.16 0.55 4.10 Range 30.00 5.43 2.42 12.34 Minimum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Maximum 30.00 5.43 2.42 12.34 Coefficient of Variation 2.02 1.74 1.02 2.64
Zone B2 Zone B3 Zone C1 Zone C2
Count 26 15 26 15 Mean 2.33 2.76 3.48 0.19 Median 0.33 0.44 0.56 0.01 Std. Dev. 3.85 4.45 6.70 0.35 Variance 14.81 19.84 44.90 0.12 Kurtosis 1.97 1.46 3.15 5.94 Skewness 1.81 1.67 2.16 2.56 Range 13.54 14.77 24.03 1.39 Minimum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Maximum 13.54 14.77 24.03 1.39 Coefficient of Variation 1.65 1.61 1.92 1.83
VARIOGRAPHY – CONTINUITY ANALYSIS
PHOENIX DEPOSIT For zone A, RPA reviewed variograms of grade and GxD for the HG domain composite data
and grade for the LG domain composite data. Variograms were prepared in the downhole
direction, along a northeasterly strike direction, and horizontally across the strike direction.
Variograms were of fair quality considering the limited number of composite data. The
nugget effect was approximately 10% of the sill. The GxD variograms were similar to those
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Page 14-30 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
of grade. The variograms suggested approximate ranges for the zone A HG domain of 2.4 m
downhole, 35 m along strike, and 10 m or less across strike; and for the zone A LG domain,
2.1 m downhole, 25 m or less along strike, and 25 m across strike. These ranges were used
to derive search ellipse dimensions for block interpolations.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Zone specific variography has not been undertaken because the current drill hole spacing
and number of samples are not adequate to generate meaningful variograms.
INTERPOLATION PARAMETERS Three dimensional block models were constructed using Maptek Vulcan Mine Modelling
Software. The variables G, D, and GxD were interpolated using an inverse distance squared
(ID2) algorithm for each mineralized domain. Hard boundaries were employed at domain
contacts, so that composites from within a given domain could not influence block grades in
other domains. Table 14-8 shows the block model parameters and variables used.
TABLE 14-8 PHOENIX AND GRYPHON BLOCK MODEL PARAMETERS AND VARIABLES
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Model name: H:\PROJECTS\2534 - Denison Mines Corp - Gryphon Deposit\Work\VULCAN_30Sept2015\wr_gryphon_sept2015_2m_capped-30
History list: wr_gryphon_sept2015_2m_capped-3014Oct2015.bhst Format: extended Structure: regular Smooth: no Number of blocks: 19,250,000 Number of variables: 13 Number of schemas: 1 Origin: 474,768.281 6,376,260.0 -400.0 Bearing/Dip/Plunge: 110.0 0.0 0.0 Offset: 550.0 700.00 1000.0
Model name: H:\PROJECTS\2299-Denison Mines Corp.-Phoenix Uranium Deposits\Work\Vulcan\Phoenix\phx5_HG_zonea_u2
History list: phx5_HG_zonea23May2014.bhst Format: extended Structure: non-regular Smooth: no
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Page 14-31 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Number of blocks: 1808 Number of variables: 12 Number of schemas: 1 Origin: 476,725.0 6,373,800.0 30.0 Bearing/Dip/Plunge: 52.0 0.0 0.0 Offset: 820.0 120.0 200.0
Model name: H:\PROJECTS\2299-Denison Mines Corp.-Phoenix Uranium Deposits\Work\Vulcan\Phoenix\phx5_HG_zoneb_u2
History list: phx5_HG_zoneb23May2014.bhst Format: extended Structure: non-regular Smooth: no Number of blocks: 324 Number of variables: 12 Number of schemas: 1 Origin: 476,725.0 6,373,800.0 30.0 Bearing/Dip/Plunge: 52.0 0. 0.0 Offset: 820.0 120.0 200.0
Model name: H:\PROJECTS\2299-Denison Mines Corp.-Phoenix Uranium Deposits\Work\Vulcan\Phoenix\phx5_LG_zonea_u2
History list: phx5_LG_zonea23May2014.bhst Format: extended Structure: non-regular Smooth: no Number of blocks: 5417 Number of variables: 12 Number of schemas: 1 Origin: 476,725.0 6,373,800.0 30.0 Bearing/Dip/Plunge: 52.0 0. 0.0 Offset: 820.0 120.0 200.0
Model name: H:\PROJECTS\2299-Denison Mines Corp.-Phoenix Uranium Deposits\Work\Vulcan\Phoenix\phx5_LG_zoneb_u2
History list: phx5_LG_zoneb23May2014.bhst Format: extended Structure: non-regular Smooth: no Number of blocks: 1506 Number of variables: 12 Number of schemas: 1 Origin: 476,725.0 6,373,800.0 30.0 Bearing/Dip/Plunge: 52.0 0. 0.0 Offset: 820.0 120.0 200.0
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Page 14-32 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Variables Default Type Description den -99.0 float density gxd_d -99.0 float gxd / den gxd -99.0 float grade (raw) x density grade_id2 -99.0 float interpolated raw grade ID2 grade_ok -99.0 Double interpolated grade ordinary kriging nsamp -99.0 short number of samples per estimate nholes -99.0 short number of holes per estimate strat unclass name stratigraphy nn -99.0 double nearest neighbor est_flag_id -99.0 integer estimation flag for ID est_flag_ok -99.0 integer estimation flag for OK ore -99.0 integer zones 1-13
PHOENIX DEPOSIT For zones A and B, blocks were five metres long along the main northeast trend, two metres
wide across the main trend, and one metre high. For the zone A basement domain, blocks
were two metres long along the main northeast trend, one metre wide across the main trend,
and one metre high. A whole block approach was used whereby the block was assigned to
the domain where its centroid was located.
The interpolation strategy involved setting up search parameters in two passes for each
domain. Search ellipses were oriented with the major axis oriented parallel to the dominant
northeasterly trend of the zones. The semi-major axis was oriented horizontally, normal to
the major axis (across strike) and the minor axis was vertical.
GxD and D were interpolated into the model using an initial pass. Blocks which did not
receive an interpolated grade were then interpolated in the second pass, which resulted in all
blocks being populated. Block grade was derived from the interpolated GxD value by
dividing that value by the interpolated density value for each block. Grades not weighted by
density (G) were also interpolated as a check.
In order to reduce the influence of very high grade composites, grades greater than a
designated threshold level for each domain were restricted to shorter search ellipse
dimensions. If the search ellipse contained a composite greater than the specified grade, it
was used for interpolation only if it fell within the restricted search ellipse. The threshold
grade levels were chosen from the basic statistics and from visual inspection of the apparent
continuity of very high grades within each domain.
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Page 14-33 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Search parameters are listed in Table 14-9 for the Phoenix deposit zones A and B, HG and
LG domains. Major axis is horizontal along the main mineralized trend of N52°E, semi-major
axis is horizontal normal to the main trend, and the minor axis is vertical.
TABLE 14-9 PHOENIX DEPOSIT BLOCK MODEL INTERPOLATION PARAMETERS
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Deposit and Domain Pass Search Radii (m) Number of Composites Used
Major Semi-major Minor Min Max Max per
DH A Deposit HG First 35 15 8 3 8 2
Second 50 25 10 3 8 2 Restricted >60% U3O8 15 6 4 3 8 2
A Deposit LG First 35 15 8 3 8 2 Second 50 25 10 3 8 2
Restricted >6% U3O8 15 6 4 3 8 2 A Deposit Basement First 10 10 4 2 6 2
Second 20 20 4 2 6 2 Restricted >3% U3O8 10 10 4 2 6 2
B Deposit HG First 35 15 6 3 8 2 Second 50 25 10 3 8 2
Restricted >40% U3O8 15 5 4 3 8 2 B Deposit LG First 35 15 6 3 8 2
Second 50 25 10 3 8 2 Restricted >4% U3O8 15 5 4 3 8 2
Figure 14-17 is a three-dimensional isometric view looking downward to the north at the zone
A block model with colour coded grades. Higher grades are red and green. The blocks
shown are mostly in the LG domain. Figure 14-18 is an isometric view looking downward to
the north at the HG domain of the zone A block model with colour coded grades. Higher
grades are red and purple.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT Following the generation of the wireframes for each zone, the wireframes were filled by a
block model. The wireframes were used to assign domain codes to the blocks in the block
model and for generating and coding composited assays (Figure 14-19). RPA determined
that the 2 m by 10 m by 1 m block size was appropriate for modelling the individual
mineralized units.
ZONE A
Drill Hole Trace
Block Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0.001 %
0.001 % - 0.8 %
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 50 %
> 50 %
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
N
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit Zone A3D Block Model
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure -1714
134
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
ZONE A
Drill Hole Trace
Block Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0.001 %
0.001 % - 0.8 %
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 50 %
> 50 %
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
N
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit Zone A3D HG Domain Block Model
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure -1814
135
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
Zone A1
Zone C1
Block Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0. %05
0. % - 0.8 %2
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 0 %6
> 0 %6
0. % - 0. %05 2
0 50
Metres
100 150 200
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Gryphon DepositBlock Model Domains A1 and C1
(Looking North)
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 14-19
14-3
6
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 14-37 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Composited GxD values and D values were interpolated into each block model domain using
an ID2 algorithm for each mineralized domain. Domain boundaries were treated as hard
boundaries, so that composites from any given domain could not influence block grades in
other domains. Block grade was derived from the interpolated GxD value divided by the
interpolated D value for each block (GxD_D). Block tonnage was based on volume times the
interpolated D value.
The interpolation strategy involved setting up search parameters in two passes for each
individual mineralized wireframe. Table 14-10 provides a list of the estimation parameters
used for each pass, and all wireframes were subject to the same estimation parameters.
TABLE 14-10 GRYPHON BLOCK MODEL ESTIMATION PARAMETERS Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
estimation_id flag_var flag_value alpha zeta beta major semi minor Min samples
Maxsamples dh_limit
id1_a1 est_flag_id 1 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 6 9 3 id1_a2 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 6 2 id1_a3 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 6 2 id1_b1 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 6 9 3 id1_b2 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 6 2 id1_b3 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 3 9 3 id1_b4 est_flag_id 1 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 6 2 id1_c1 est_flag_id 1 40 -20 -40 120 60 12 6 9 3 id1_c2 est_flag_id 1 40 -20 -35 120 60 12 2 6 2 id1_d1 est_flag_id 1 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id1_d2 est_flag_id 1 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id1_d3 est_flag_id 1 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id1_d4 est_flag_id 1 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_a1 est_flag_id 2 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_a2 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_a3 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_b1 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_b2 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_b3 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_b4 est_flag_id 2 40 -25 -45 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_c1 est_flag_id 2 40 -20 -40 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_c2 est_flag_id 2 40 -20 -35 120 60 12 2 4 2 id2_d1 est_flag_id 2 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 1 2 2 id2_d2 est_flag_id 2 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 1 2 2 id2_d3 est_flag_id 2 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 1 2 2 id2_d4 est_flag_id 2 40 -30 -45 120 60 12 1 2 2
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Page 14-38 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
BLOCK MODEL VALIDATION The Phoenix and Gryphon deposit block models were validated by the following checks:
• Comparison of domain wireframe volumes with block volumes.
• Visual comparison of composite grades with block grades.
• Comparison of block grades with composite grades used to interpolate grades.
• Comparison with estimation by a different method.
In RPA’s opinion, block model validation is reasonable and acceptable.
VOLUME COMPARISON Wireframe volumes were compared to block volumes for each domain at the Phoenix and
Gryphon deposits. This comparison is summarized in Table 14-11 and results show that
there is good agreement between the wireframe volumes and block model volume. The
difference is less than 2%, except for the zone B HG, A3, and B2 domains where the
difference ranges from 3.5% to 6% due to the small volume of the wireframe combined with
the whole block approach.
TABLE 14-11 VOLUME COMPARISON FOR WIREFRAME AND BLOCKS BY DOMAIN
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Project
Deposit and Zone Wireframe Block Model %
Difference Points Triangles SurfaceArea
Volume (m3) Blocks Volume
(m3) Phoenix Deposit Zone A HG 4,965 9,926 16,732 17,999 1,808 18,080 0.45% Zone A LG 13,313 26,682 49,758 54,270 5,416 54,160 -0.20% Zone B HG 308 612 3,722 3,109 324 3,240 4.05% Zone B LG 1,604 3,254 14,911 15,142 1,492 14,920 -1.49% Zone A Basement 132 260 2009 2 1,115 2,230 -1.02%
Gryphon Deposit A1 783 1,562 101,254 172,570 8614 172,280 0.17% A2 770 1,536 76,882 86,959 4346 86,920 0.04% A3 206 404 22,676 20,305 955 19,100 5.94% B1 589 1,174 73,444 101,644 5156 103,120 -1.45% B2 268 532 32,089 38,599 1861 37,220 3.57% B3 82 160 11,205 14,929 762 15,240 -2.08% C1 343 682 31,363 33,766 1648 32,960 2.39% C2 267 530 23,213 21,189 1053 21,060 0.61%
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Page 14-39 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
VISUAL COMPARISON Block grades were visually compared with drill hole composites on cross sections,
longitudinal sections, and plan views. The block grades and composite grades correlate very
well visually within both the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON Statistics of the block grades are compared with statistics of composite grades in Table 14-
12 for all blocks and composites within the Phoenix deposit zones A and B, HG, and LG
domains. Table 14-13 lists the composites versus block grades for Gryphon. Grades are
weighted by density for the composites and tonnage for the blocks. In some cases, the
average block grades are higher than the average composite grades, which RPA attributes
to density weighting of the block grades or distribution of the drill holes within relatively small
zones.
TABLE 14-12 STATISTICS OF BLOCK GRADES COMPARED TO COMPOSITE GRADES BY DOMAIN - PHOENIX
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Statistic Zone A HG Zone A LG Zone A BSMT Zone B HG Zone B LG
Blocks Comps Blocks Comps Blocks Comps Blocks Comps Blocks Comps Mean (%U3O8) 39.18 34.86 1.73 1.77 1.35 1.56 25.71 21.65 1.34 1.57
Standard Error 0.37 1.93 0.02 0.14 0.35 0.36 0.59 3.74 0.04 0.31
Median (%U3O8) 36.51 31.52 1.22 0.59 0.14 0.32 26.63 17.14 0.69 0.53
Mode (%U3O8) N/A N/A 0.44 0.18 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.25 Standard Deviation
(%U3O8) 15.63 21.62 1.72 2.69 4.11 4.26 10.66 15.85 1.65 2.64
Sample Variance 244.16 467.56 2.98 7.23 16.91 18.12 113.73 251.25 2.71 6.99
Kurtosis -0.13 -0.69 16.02 10.25 25.63 23.16 -1.18 -1.02 5.04 4.65
Skewness 0.67 0.45 3.05 2.81 4.90 4.72 -0.08 0.54 2.23 2.36
Range (%U3O8) 77.76 82.31 19.85 20.13 27.82 27.66 44.86 49.24 10.48 10.86
Min (%U3O8) 4.62 0.29 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 3.46 1.46 0.01 0.01
Max (%U3O8) 82.38 82.60 19.88 20.14 27.82 27.66 48.32 50.69 10.49 10.87
Sum 70,832 4,357 9,354 608 186.78 215 8,329 390 2,025 113
Count 1,808 125 5,417 344 138 138 324 18 1,506 72 Coefficient of
Variation 0.40 0.62 1.00 1.52 3.04 2.73 0.41 0.73 1.23 1.68
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Page 14-40 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 14-13 STATISTICS OF BLOCK GRADES COMPARED TO COMPOSITE GRADES BY DOMAIN - GRYPHON
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Statistic Zone A1 Zone A2 Zone A3 Zone B1
Comps Blocks Comp Blocks Comp Blocks Comp Blocks Count 131 8,486 51 3,528 4 398 51 3,219 Mean 2.25 2.72 0.76 0.88 0.94 0.97 0.89 1.34 Median 0.38 1.51 0.16 0.52 0.67 0.99 0.18 0.87 Std. Dev. 4.53 2.89 1.32 0.92 0.96 0.22 2.34 1.31 Variance 20.52 8.34 1.74 0.84 0.92 0.05 5.46 1.71 Kurtosis 12.36 5.48 3.74 2.12 -1.28 0.39 16.26 3.40 Skewness 3.26 2.00 2.16 1.59 0.55 0.46 4.10 1.68 Range 30.00 25.47 5.43 5.06 2.42 1.32 12.34 9.90 Minimum 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.47 0.00 0.05 Maximum 30.00 25.52 5.43 5.11 2.42 1.78 12.34 9.95 Coef. of Var. 2.02 1.06 1.74 1.04 1.02 0.23 2.64 0.98
Statistic Zone B2 Zone B3 Zone C1 Zone C2
Comp Blocks Comp Blocks Comps Blocks Comp Blocks Count 26 1,757 15 580 26 1,513 15 454 Mean 2.33 1.72 2.76 3.94 3.48 3.13 0.19 0.18 Median 0.33 0.74 0.44 2.18 0.56 1.38 0.01 0.10 Std. Dev. 3.85 2.03 4.45 4.17 6.70 4.14 0.35 0.21 Variance 14.81 4.14 19.84 17.43 44.90 17.13 0.12 0.04 Kurtosis 1.97 2.50 1.46 -0.71 3.15 4.04 5.94 6.48 Skewness 1.81 1.75 1.67 0.87 2.16 2.09 2.56 2.66 Range 13.54 9.77 14.77 14.98 24.03 22.08 1.39 1.11 Minimum 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.05 Maximum 13.54 9.82 14.77 15.10 24.03 22.15 1.39 1.17 Coef. of Var. 1.65 1.18 1.61 1.06 1.92 1.32 1.83 1.15
CHECK BY DIFFERENT ESTIMATION METHODS PHOENIX DEPOSIT RPA has carried out check estimates of the Denison ID2 block models of the Phoenix deposit
using the contour method.
For the contour method (Agnerian and Roscoe, 2002), grade times thickness times density
(GxTxD) values for each drill hole intercept were plotted on plans and contoured. The areas
between the contours were measured and multiplied by the average value in the contour
interval. The GxTxD values are proportional to pounds of U3O8 per square metre and the
sum of these values times area are converted to total pounds of U3O8 for each domain.
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Page 14-41 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Thickness times density (TxD) values were also plotted on plans and contoured. The areas
between the contours were measured and multiplied by the average value in the contour
interval. The sum of the TxD values multiplied by the area represents tonnage for each of
the domains. For the contour method check on the Phoenix deposit zone A HG domain, the
tonnes, grade, and contained pounds of U3O8 estimated by the contour method are in the
same general range as the ID2 block model estimate.
CUT-OFF GRADE
PHOENIX DEPOSIT The cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8 is based on internal conceptual studies by Denison and a
price of US$50/lb U3O8. The HG domains are not sensitive to cut-off grades less than 5%
U3O8 while the LG domains are quite sensitive to cut-off grade. RPA recommends that the
cut-off grade should be revisited during future resource estimations on the Phoenix deposit.
Table 14-14 and Figure 14-20 show the sensitivity of the Indicated Mineral Resource to cut-
off grade. It can be seen that, although there is some sensitivity of the tonnes and grade to
cut-off grade, the contained pounds of U3O8 are much less sensitive to cut-off grade. The
cut-off grade affects essentially only the LG domains of zones A and B because virtually all
of the blocks in the HG domains of zones A and B are above the 5% U3O8 cut-off grade.
TABLE 14-14 PHOENIX DEPOSIT INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY TO CUT-OFF GRADE
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Cut-off % U3O8
Grade % U3O8
Tonnes Lb U3O8 Millions
0.50 16.94 188,900 70.5 0.80 19.13 166,200 70.2 1.00 20.60 154,000 69.9 1.50 24.23 129,800 69.3 2.00 27.40 113,700 68.7 3.00 32.42 94,700 67.7 5.00 38.07 79,100 66.3
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Page 14-42 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-20 PHOENIX INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCE TONNES AND GRADE AT VARIOUS CUT-OFF GRADES
GRYPHON DEPOSIT RPA estimated a potential underground mining cut-off grade using assumptions based on
historical and known operating costs on mines operating in the Athabasca Basin. Table 14-
15 shows the breakeven cut-off grade estimate by RPA using a price of US$50/lb U3O8 and
based on assumptions for process plant recovery, total operating cost, and incremental
component of operating cost. The estimated cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8 is in line with the
cut-off grade of 0.2% that RPA understands is used at Cameco’s Rabbit Lake mine, which is
basement mineralization similar geologically to Gryphon.
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
220,000
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
Aver
age
Gra
de (%
U3O
8)
Tonn
es
Cut-off Grade % U3O8
Phoenix Grade vs. Tonnes
Tonnes Avg. Grade
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Page 14-43 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 14-15 GRYPHON DEPOSIT CUT-OFF GRADE CALCULATION Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Item Quantity Price in US$/lb U3O8 US$50 Process plant recovery 90% Operating cost per tonne US$270 Incremental operating cost component (75%) US$200 Cut-off grade 0.2%
Table 14-16 and Figure 14-21 show the sensitivity of the Gryphon block model to various cut-
off grades. RPA notes that, although there is some sensitivity of average grade and tonnes
to cut-off grade, the contained ounces are less sensitive.
TABLE 14-16 GRYPHON DEPOSIT INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY TO CUT-OFF GRADE
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Cut-off % U3O8
Grade % U3O8
Tonnes (000)
Mlb U3O8
0.20 2.342 834 43 0.40 2.679 716 42 0.60 2.981 629 41 0.80 3.367 538 40 1.00 3.701 474 39
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Page 14-44 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
FIGURE 14-21 GRYPHON INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE TONNES AND GRADE AT VARIOUS CUT-OFF GRADES
CLASSIFICATION Definitions for resource categories used in this report are consistent with those in the CIM
(2014) and adopted by NI 43-101. In CIM (2014), a Mineral Resource is defined as “a
concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in
such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual
economic extraction”. Mineral Resources are classified into Measured, Indicated, and
Inferred categories. A Mineral Reserve is defined as the “economically mineable part of a
Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource” demonstrated by studies at Pre-Feasibility or
Feasibility level as appropriate. Mineral Reserves are classified into Proven and Probable
categories. No Mineral Reserves have been estimated for the Property.
PHOENIX DEPOSIT The Mineral Resources for the Phoenix deposit are classified as Indicated and Inferred
based on drill hole spacing and apparent continuity of mineralization.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
Aver
age
Gra
de (%
U3O
8)
Tonn
es
Cut-off Grade % U3O8
Gryphon Grade vs. Tonnes
Tonnes Avg. Grade
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Page 14-45 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
At zone A, the drill hole spacing is approximately 10 m on sections spaced 25 m apart. The
classification of Indicated based on drill hole density and good grade continuity along strike is
appropriate in RPA’s opinion for all of the LG and HG domains. The zone A basement
domain is classified as Inferred because of uncertainty of grade continuity due to the small
number of drill holes.
At zone B, the drill hole spacing is approximately 10 m on sections spaced 25 m apart. The
classification of Indicated is appropriate in RPA’s opinion for most of the LG and HG
domains. In the northeastern part of zone B, drill hole sections are spaced at approximately
35 m and the most northeasterly drill hole does not correlate well spatially with other drill
holes because its elevation is slightly lower. This part of zone B is classified as Inferred
because there is some uncertainty in the continuity of grade in both the HG and LG domains.
Figure 14-22 shows the area of Inferred Mineral Resources along with Indicated Mineral
Resources at zone B.
GRYPHON DEPOSIT The Mineral Resources for the Gryphon deposit are classified as Inferred based on drill hole
spacing and apparent continuity of mineralization.
Drill Hole Trace
ZONE B1
ZONE B2
Indicated Resource
Inferred Resource
High Grade Domain (solid filled)
Infe
rred
Boundary
Low Grade Domain (non-filled)Indicated Resource
N
Block Grade (U O %)3 8
< 0.001 %
0.001 % - 0.8 %
0.8 % - 5 %
5 % - 10 %
10 % - 20 %
20 % - 30 %
30 % - 50 %
> 50 %
0 25
Metres
50 75 100
UTM Projection WGS 84-13N
November 2015
Wheeler River Property
Phoenix Deposit Zone BBlock Model Showing Inferred
and Indicated Resources
Denison Mines Corp.
Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 2214-
146
4-
ww
w.rp
acan
.co
m
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Page 14-47 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE Table 14-17 lists the Mineral Resource estimate for the Wheeler River Property by domain
and resource category. The effective date of the resource estimate is September 25, 2015.
The Phoenix cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8 is based on internal conceptual studies by Denison
and a price of US$50/lb U3O8, while a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8 for Gryphon is based on
RPA estimates using assumptions based on historical and known mining costs on mines
operating in the Athabasca Basin at a price of US50/lb U3O8.
For the Phoenix and Gryphon deposits, total Indicated Mineral Resources are estimated at
166,400 tonnes at an average grade of 19.13% U3O8 containing 70.2 million pounds of U3O8.
Total Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 842,600 tonnes at an average grade of
2.37% U3O8 containing 44.1 million pounds of U3O8.
In RPA’s opinion, the estimation methodology is consistent with standard industry practice
and the Wheeler River Property Mineral Resource estimate is considered to be reasonable
and acceptable.
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Page 14-48 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
TABLE 14-17 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR THE WHEELER RIVER PROJECT AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property
Category Deposit and Domain Tonnes Grade (% U3O8)
Contained Metal (million lb U3O8)
Indicated Phoenix Zone A HG 62,900 43.24 59.9 Indicated Phoenix Zone A LG 84,300 2.37 4.4 Indicated Phoenix Zone B HG 8,500 28.02 5.2 Indicated Phoenix Zone B LG 10,700 2.91 0.7 Subtotal Indicated Phoenix Zone A 147,200 19.81 64.3 Subtotal Indicated Phoenix Zone B 19,200 13.94 5.9 Total Indicated 166,400 19.13 70.2
Inferred Phoenix Zone A HG 0 0 0 Inferred Phoenix Zone B HG 700 14.48 0.2 Inferred Phoenix Zone B LG 4,800 1.79 0.2 Inferred Phoenix Zone A Basement 3,100 10.24 0.7 Subtotal Inferred Phoenix Zone A 0 0 0.0 Subtotal Inferred Phoenix Zone B 5,500 3.30 0.4 Subtotal Inferred Phoenix Zone A Basement 3,100 10.24 0.7 Subtotal Inferred Phoenix Deposit 8,600 5.80 1.1 Inferred Gryphon A1 387,200 2.89 24.6 Inferred Gryphon A2 125,200 1.10 3.0 Inferred Gryphon A3 18,100 0.97 0.4 Inferred Gryphon B1 137,500 1.43 4.3 Inferred Gryphon B2 73,300 1.90 3.1 Inferred Gryphon B3 19,000 5.72 2.4 Inferred Gryphon C1 69,700 3.33 5.1 Inferred Gryphon C2 3,900 0.54 0.1 Subtotal Inferred Gryphon Deposit 834,000 2.37 43.0 Total Inferred Phoenix and Gryphon 842,600 2.37 44.1
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. 2. Mineral Resources for Phoenix are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8, which is based on
internal Denison studies and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 3. Mineral Resources for Gryphon are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8, which is based on RPA
assumptions and a price of US$50 per lb U3O8. 4. High grade composites are subjected to a high grade search restriction without capping at Phoenix. 5. High grade mineralization was capped at 30% with no search restrictions at Gryphon. 6. Bulk density is derived from grade using a formula based on 196 measurements at Phoenix and 65
measurements at Gryphon. 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
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Page 15-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
15 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE There is no current Mineral Reserve estimate on the Gryphon deposit.
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Page 16-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
16 MINING METHODS This section is not applicable.
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Page 17-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
17 RECOVERY METHODS This section is not applicable.
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Page 18-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
18 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE This section is not applicable.
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Page 19-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
19 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS This section is not applicable.
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Page 20-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
20 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT This section is not applicable.
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Page 21-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
21 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS This section is not applicable.
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Page 22-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
22 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS This section is not applicable.
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Page 23-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
23 ADJACENT PROPERTIES This section is not applicable.
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Page 24-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
24 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION This section is not applicable.
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Page 25-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
25 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS Drilling at the Wheeler River Property from 2008 to 2014 discovered and delineated the
Phoenix uranium deposit at the intersection of the Athabasca sandstone basal unconformity
with a regional fault zone, the WS fault, and graphitic pelite basement rocks. Drilling from
2014 to 2015 discovered the basement hosted Gryphon uranium deposit located
approximately three kilometres northwest of the Phoenix deposit.
The Phoenix deposit consists of two separate lenses known as zone A and zone B located at
the Athabasca unconformity approximately 400 m below surface within a one kilometre long,
northeast trending mineralized corridor. Both lenses contain a higher grade core within a
lower grade mineralized envelope and extend southeastward from the WS fault along the
unconformity. Some mineralization also occurs on the northwest side of the WS fault but
commonly at a slightly lower elevation. In addition to zones A and B, a domain of uranium
mineralization below and adjacent to zone A has been identified in basement rocks (zone A
basement) and included in this report.
Mineral Resources for Phoenix, based on 196 diamond drill holes totalling 89,835 m, were
estimated by RPA. Indicated Resources total 166,400 t at 19.13% U3O8 containing 70.2
million lb U3O8. Inferred Resources total 8,600 t at 5.80% U3O8 containing 1.1 million lb
U3O8.
Mineralization at the Gryphon deposit, located three kilometres northwest of Phoenix, occurs
in basement rocks approximately 200 m beneath the Athabasca sandstone unconformity. In
this area, the unconformity drops to the northwest in a series of reverse fault offsets.
Cumulative offset is approximately 60 m of vertical displacement over 250 m across strike.
Basement rocks are Wollaston Group gneisses that dip moderately to the southeast and
consist of an upper graphitic pelite unit overlying a quartzite/pegmatite assemblage which
overlies a lower graphitic pelite unit followed by a basal pegmatite. To date, the
mineralization is hosted in fault zones at the base of the upper graphitic pelite and within the
lower graphitic pelite. The faults are assumed to dip moderately to the southeast,
conformable with the bedding and foliation in the basement rocks.
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Page 25-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
Mineral Resources for Gryphon, based on 55 diamond drill holes totalling 40,041 m, were
estimated by RPA. Inferred Resources total 834,000 t at 2.31% U3O8 containing 43.0 million
lb U3O8. In RPA’s opinion, additional infill drilling on 25 m profile spacing or wedging off of
current drill holes would be needed to bring the Inferred Mineral Resource into Indicated
status.
In RPA’s opinion, a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) could be carried out on the
Phoenix and Gryphon deposits combined.
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Page 26-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
26 RECOMMENDATIONS In the third quarter of 2015, the Wheeler River Joint Venture commenced a PEA. At the end
of the PEA, a review of the project will be completed with recommendations for next steps.
Should the project proceed into pre-feasibility, initial work will focus on environmental
baseline studies, engineering field programs, and engineering studies.
The Wheeler River Joint Venture plans to continue exploration on the Property in 2016, with
emphasis expected to be on the areas to the northeast and southwest of Gryphon, as well as
other targets on the Property. In addition, an infill drilling program may be undertaken on the
Gryphon deposit to bring the Inferred Mineral Resource into Indicated status if warranted by
positive PEA results.
RPA has reviewed the preliminary plans for 2016 and concurs with the program planned for
the Wheeler River Joint Venture in 2016. Denison’s 2016 budget for the Wheeler River Joint
Venture has not been disclosed yet, but RPA expects exploration expenditures to be in the
order of C$10 million. Contingent on results of this program and the PEA, a second phase
will consist of infill drilling at Gryphon, environmental baseline studies, engineering field
programs, and engineering studies as part of the initiation of a pre-feasibility study. RPA
expects that the cost of the second phase program will be in the order of C$3 million.
If further drilling is completed at Gryphon, RPA recommends that Denison continue to collect
additional bulk density data to increase the confidence of estimated densities of the entire
grade range.
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Page 27-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
27 REFERENCES Agnerian, H., and W. E. Roscoe, 2002: The Contour Method of Estimating Mineral
Resources. CIM Bulletin, v. 95, pp. 100-107. Arseneau, G., and C. Revering, 2010, Technical Report on the Phoenix Deposit (Zones A &
B) – Wheeler River Project, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. NI 43-101 Technical Report for Denison Mines Corp. (November 17, 2010).
Bosman, S.A., and J. Korness, 2007: Building Athabasca Stratigraphy, Revising, redefining,
and Repositioning. in Summary of Investigations, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Miscellaneous Report 2007-4.2, CD-ROM, Paper A-8, 29 p.
Campbell, J.E., 2007: Quaternary geology of the eastern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan in
Jefferson, C.W. and Delaney, G. eds., EXTECH IV: Geology and Uranium Exploration Technology of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 588, pp. 211-228.
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), 2014: CIM Definition
Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014.
Card, C.D., D. Pana, P. Portella, D.J. Thomas, and I.R. Annelsey, 2007: Basement rocks of
the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Jefferson, C.W. and Delaney, G. eds., EXTECH IV: Geology and Uranium Exploration Technology of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 588, pp. 69-87.
Dahlkamp, F.J., and B. Tan, 2007: Geology and mineralogy of the Key Lake U-Ni deposits,
northern Saskatchewan, Canada in Jones, M.J. eds., Geology, Mining, and Extractive Processing of Uranium: Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London, pp. 145-157.
Denison Mines Corp., 2009-2011: Various Internal QA/QC Procedures and Memos outlining core logging, sampling, borehole logging, etc. Denver, Saskatoon.
Earle, S., and V. Sopuck, 1989: Regional lithogeochemistry of the eastern part of the
Athabasca Basin uranium province in Uranium Resources and Geology of North America, International Atomic Energy Agency-TecDoc-500, pp. 263-296.
Gyorfi, I., 2006: Seismic constraints on the geological evolution of the McArthur River region
in view of the tectonics of the western Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan. PhD Thesis, Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan, 230 p.
Hanly, A.J., 2001: The Mineralogy, Petrology and Rare Earth Element Geochemistry of the
MAW Zone, Athabasca Basin, Canada. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, Rolla, Missouri, USA: University of Missouri-Rolla, 168 p.
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Jefferson, C.W., D.J. Thomas, S.S. Gandhi, P. Ramaekers, and et al., 2007: Unconformity-associated uranium deposits of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Jefferson, C.W. and Delaney, G. eds., EXTECH IV: Geology and Uranium Exploration Technology of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 588, pp. 23-67.
Kerr, W.C., 2010: The Discovery of the Phoenix Deposit: a New High Grade, Athabasca
Basin Unconformity-Type Uranium Deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada. Society of Economic Geologists Special Publications 15, pp. 703-728.
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Deposits: New High-Grade, Athabasca Basin Unconformity-Type Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Canada. Vienna Paper Version #7, 45 p.
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Mines Corp., 87 p. McGill, D.G., J.L. Marlat, R.G. Matthews, V.J. Supuck, L.A. Homeniuk, and J.J Hubregtse,
2993: The P2 North uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada, Exploration and Mining Geology, v. 2, pp. 321-331.
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many variations. Uranium Geochemistry 2003, International Conference, Nancy, France, April 13-16 2003, Proceedings, pp. 309-312.
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Group, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Jefferson, C.W. and Delaney, G. eds., EXTECH IV: Geology and Uranium Exploration Technology of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 588, pp. 151-191.
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Phoenix Uranium Deposits, Wheeler River Project, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, RPA NI 43-101 Report prepared for Denison Mines Corp. (December 31, 2012).
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deposits, northern Saskatchewan discovery, Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, V. 76, No. 852, pp. 63-79.
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Wallis, R.H., N. Saracoglu, J.J. Brummer, and J.P. Golightly, 1984: The geology of the McClean uranium deposits, northern Saskatchewan, Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, V. 77, No. 864, pp. 69-96.
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basin of northern Saskatchewan: applications to uranium mineralization. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, Saskatoon, Canada: University of Saskatchewan, 140 p.
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of a Paleoproterozoic Wilson cycle in the Trans-Hudson Orogeny, Saskatchewan in Jefferson, C.W. and Delaney, G. eds., EXTECH IV: Geology and Uranium Exploration Technology of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 588, pp. 89-117.
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Page 28-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
28 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE This report titled “Technical Report on a Mineral Resource Estimate for the Wheeler River
Property, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada” and dated November
25, 2015, was prepared and signed by the following authors:
(Signed & Sealed) “William E. Roscoe” Dated at Toronto, ON November 25, 2015 William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng. Principal Geologist (Signed & Sealed) “Mark B. Mathisen” Dated at Lakewood, CO November 25, 2015 Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G. Senior Geologist
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Page 29-1 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
29 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON WILLIAM E. ROSCOE I, William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng., as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on a Mineral Resource Estimate for the Wheeler River Property, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada”, prepared for Denison Mines Corp. (the “Issuer”), and dated November 25, 2015, do hereby certify that:
1. I am a Principal Geologist with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 501, 55 University Ave Toronto, ON, M5J 2H7.
2. I am a graduate of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, in 1966 with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Geological Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, in 1969 with a Master of Science degree in Geological Sciences and in 1973 a Ph.D. degree in Geological Sciences.
3. I am registered as a Professional Engineer (No. 39633011) and designated as a
Consulting Engineer in the Province of Ontario. I have worked as a geologist for a total of 46 years since my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is: • Thirty-one years of experience as a Consulting Geologist across Canada and in
many other countries • Preparation of numerous reviews and technical reports on exploration and mining
projects around the world for due diligence and regulatory requirements • Senior Geologist in charge of mineral exploration in southern Ontario and
Québec • Exploration Geologist with a major Canadian mining company in charge of
exploration projects in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland
4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
5. I visited the Wheeler River Project on October 30, 2012, and June 16, 2014.
6. I share responsibility with my co-author for all of the sections of the Technical Report.
7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
8. I have previously authored a NI 43-101 Technical Report on the property (Phoenix deposit) that is the subject of the Technical Report.
9. I have read NI 43-101 and this Technical Report, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.
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Page 29-2 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.
Dated this 25th day of November, 2015 (Signed & Sealed) “William E. Roscoe” William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng.
www.rpacan.com
Page 29-3 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
MARK B. MATHISEN I, Mark B. Mathisen, CPG, as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on a Mineral Resource Estimate for the Wheeler River Property, Eastern Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada”, prepared for Denison Mines Corp. (the “Issuer”), and dated November 25, 2015, do hereby certify that: 1. I am Senior Geologist with RPA (USA) Ltd. of Suite 505, 143 Union Boulevard,
Lakewood, Co., USA 80228. 2. I am a graduate of Colorado School of Mines in 1984 with a B.Sc. degree in Geophysical
Engineering. 3. I am a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming (No. PG-2821) and a
Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (No. CPG-11648). I have worked as a geologist for a total of 20 years since my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is: • Mineral Resource estimation and preparation of NI 43-101 Technical Reports. • Director, Project Resources, with Denison Mines Corp., responsible for resource
evaluation and reporting for uranium projects in the USA, Canada, Africa, and Mongolia.
• Project Geologist with Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., responsible for planning and direction of field activities and project development for an in situ leach uranium project in the USA. Cost analysis software development.
• Design and direction of geophysical programs for US and international base metal and gold exploration joint venture programs.
4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI
43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
5. I visited the Wheeler River Property on March 23 to 25, 2015. 6. I share responsibility with my co-author for all of the sections of the Technical Report. 7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. 8. I was working on the database QA/QC for Gryphon between late 2013 and April 2014.
First resource modelling for Gryphon was done after I joined RPA in May 2014. 9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with
NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.
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Page 29-4 Denison Mines Corp. – Wheeler River Property, Project #2534 Technical Report NI 43-101 – November 25, 2015
10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.
Dated this 25th day of November, 2015 (Signed & Sealed) “Mark B. Mathisen” Mark B. Mathisen